Minister Wayne Ghemu delivers his keynote address
Solomon Islands reaffirms full support for Weather Ready Pacific as Honiara hosts regional meeting
Regional Participants at the opening ceremony
Minister for MECDM Hon. Wayne Ghemu garlanded by a SPREP Secretariat Staff
SPREP’s Director of Climate Science and Information Mr Salesa Nihmei at the opening ceremony
Honiara, Solomon Islands|2 June 2026: The Solomon Islands Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster and Meteorology Hon. Wayne Osopo Ghemu today reaffirmed that Solomon Islands will continue to fully support the Weather Ready Pacific programme, because it is already delivering real benefits for communities across the country.
Speaking at the third Weather Ready Pacific Steering Committee Meeting opened in Honiara today, Minister Ghemu said Solomon Islands has backed the programme since Pacific Leaders endorsed it in 2021.
“This is not just another overseas project. This is a Pacific plan, made by Pacific people, to protect Pacific lives,” Minister Ghemu said.
“If Weather Ready Pacific can serve our people in the villages and islands, then it will always have a home here in Honiara. It will always have the full support of the Solomon Islands Government.”
The Minister highlighted three practical examples of Weather Ready Pacific moving from vision to action in Solomon Islands, referring to the new weather radar currently under construction near the Honiara International Airport to improve monitoring of severe weather and provide faster, more accurate warnings.
Solomon Islands also benefited from professional training, which is underway for the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service officers to build forecasting skills and public service. In addition, the country also benefited from Starlink kits, which were deployed to remote areas to improve internet connectivity for early warning and disaster response under the programme.
“In our island country, where the ocean and distance make communication hard, a good connection saves lives during cyclones, floods and disasters,” he said.
Minister Ghemu stressed that equipment alone is not enough. He called on the Steering Committee to focus on building systems that last, with national ownership, maintenance plans, and strong regional coordination.
“But equipment alone is not enough. Training alone is not enough. What we need are systems that our Solomon Islands Meteorological Service can own and maintain. Systems that reach the last mile — to the mother in Western Province, the fisherman in Isabel, the farmer in Malaita, the child in Choiseul, and families in Guadalcanal,” he said.
“Weather Ready Pacific must not be a programme people only hear about in Honiara meeting rooms. It must be felt in our villages, schools, churches, markets, harbours and homes.”
The Minister thanked SPREP, WMO, development partners and technical agencies for their support, and acknowledged the work of the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service and National Disaster Management Office.
He urged delegates to use the meeting to strengthen governance, set clear priorities, avoid duplication, and keep communities at the centre of all decisions.
“Let us keep working as one Pacific family. Because the success of this programme will be measured by one thing: whether our people are safer because of the decisions we make,” Minister Ghemu said.
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