BY NED GAGAHE
PRIME Minister Jeremiah Manele has reaffirmed the Government’s strong commitment to lowering the high cost of electricity in the country, describing the issue as a major barrier to economic growth and an unnecessary burden on households.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday during the Sine-Die Motion, the Prime Minister said significant work is already underway to address the issue through targeted reforms in the energy sector.
He said the review of the Electricity Act is progressing, while the review of the non-fuel tariff component for the next three years has just been completed.
“Solomon Power as a state-owned enterprise must follow the Government policy. There is no way around this,” Mr Manele said.
“Our people deserve better. The high electricity cost makes doing business in Solomon Islands very expensive. We will address this and we are committed to push to bring the price of electricity down.”
The Prime Minister added that the energy sector must also open up to more independent power producers, noting that ongoing reforms are designed to encourage competition and increase efficiency.
Mr Manele also highlighted major progress in the telecommunications sector, pointing to nationwide improvements in digital connectivity.
“Telecommunications connectivity has significantly improved with additional 4G and 5G expansion efforts underway,” he said.
He explained these developments are helping to reduce the digital divide and are unlocking new opportunities for education, business, innovation and community development.
The Government continues to build new communication towers across the country, although some sites face land-related disputes.
“We have signed off on a new submarine fibre optic cable to enhance communication resilience and we look forward to its completion,” the Prime Minister said.
He also stressed that mobile and internet costs must be reduced and made more affordable for all Solomon Islanders.
Mr Manele said the Government places high value on its citizens, describing them as the country’s “greatest asset.”
He said since taking office, the Government has continued to invest in education, health, youth development and skills training to build a stronger and more capable population.
“The 2026 Budget passed this week is a testament to our commitment for human capital development, where health, education and police sectors got unprecedented allocations—and rightly so,” he said.
The Prime Minister outlined the Government’s support toward school infrastructure development across provinces, additional learning resources and strengthened teacher training programmes.
He also confirmed that curriculum reforms are underway to ensure Solomon Islands students gain the skills needed for the future.
In the health sector, Mr Manele said the Government has improved the supply of essential medicines, increased disease surveillance, and supported upgrades to provincial hospitals and clinics.
“We work closely with partners to strengthen emergency response systems and community health outreach programmes,” he added.
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