Opposition Leader Wale slams high costs, poor services, calls for strong policy action

BY NED GAGAHE

OPPOSITION Leader Hon. Matthew Wale has criticised the government over poor service delivery, rising costs and what he described as policy lethargy that continues to choke economic growth and burden Solomon Islanders.

Speaking during the budget debate, Wale said Parliament spent considerable time discussing the lack of meaningful competition in the telecommunications sector, which he said continues to deliver poor quality services at high prices.

“There are tools in the hands of government to make structural changes that would result in better quality, more reliable and cheaper communications,” Wale said.

He said that communications, like electricity, fuel and transportation, are critical to a vibrant economy, yet service providers continue to “get away with” delivering substandard services at high cost.

“What we see is an attitude of providers betting on getting away with poor quality services under the excuse of ‘fitim Solo na ia’,” he said.

Wale said service providers are not being held accountable, and warned that unless reforms to the independent regulator are strengthened, the economy will remain on a “chokehold” and Solomon Islands will fail to attract investment.

“As long as policymakers accept this lazy excuse, we will not be the attractive investment destination we ought to be,” he said.

Turning to education, Wale said the cost of schooling has become unaffordable at all levels, from early childhood education to Solomon Islands National University (SINU).

“This is directly under the control of government, yet somehow it has slipped,” he said.

Wale said school fees in many cases exceed the annual income of parents, and in some instances are more than double what families earn in a year.

“It is as if school fees are set to prohibit families from sending their children to school. This is an absurd situation,” he said.

He said education should be free, but if the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) is unable to deliver free education, then school fees must at least be reduced to a reasonable proportion of the national income per capita.

Housing was another critical area Wale said has been neglected by government policy, resulting in soaring rental costs beyond the reach of ordinary Solomon Islanders.

“Urban centres are now showing a clear class divide when it comes to housing,” he said.

Wale called for a comprehensive housing policy that addresses bank lending, government incentives, land availability and values, infrastructure, and access to utilities.

“Neglect cannot be an option,” he said.

On economic policy, Wale acknowledged government’s identification of growth sectors such as minerals, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, infrastructure, telecommunications, aviation and commerce. However, he said identifying sectors alone was not enough.

“It is one thing to identify these sectors, but it is another to unlock their true potential,” he said.

He said government policy both fiscal and regulatory must play a leading role in enabling other players to create opportunities in these sectors.

“The government cannot do everything, but it is the key player in enabling others to do their part,” Wale said.

He criticised the 2026 Budget, saying it failed to introduce “game-changer initiatives” needed to drive growth and improve livelihoods.

Without decisive policy action, Wale warned, the country would continue to fall short of its economic potential.

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