MALAITA MPA INDUCTION CONCLUDES WITH URGENT CALL FOR SYSTEMIC REFORM, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND STRONGER LEADERSHIP
MPGIS, HONIARA, 1st SEPTEMBER, 2026 – The Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) has officially closed a comprehensive two-week Malaita Provincial Assembly Induction Training, marking a major milestone in strengthening leadership, governance, and service delivery for the province.
Held from 17 to 27 August 2026, the high-level governance programme brought together the Provincial Government Executive, Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), and senior administrative and financial division heads. The training focused on strengthening leadership knowledge, clarifying administrative roles, and establishing rigorous internal controls for the management of public resources.
Permanent Secretary for MPGIS, Dr. Derek Futaiasi delivering closing remarks of the Malaita MPA Induction on behalf of the Minister for MPGIS, Hon. Lazarus Alfred Rina (MP) on 27th August 2026 at Malaita Assembly Chamber
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for MPGIS, Hon. Lazarus Alfred Rina (MP), the Permanent Secretary of MPGIS, Dr. Derek Futaiasi officially declared the programme closed on 27th August, emphasizing that the true value of the training lies in its translation into practical action for rural communities.
“The people who elected you will not judge you by the number of workshops you attend,” MPGIS PS, Dr. Futaiasi stated. “They will judge you by the quality of leadership you provide, the decisions you make, the integrity you demonstrate, and the results you deliver. You must be guardians of public trust and champions of good governance.”
The intensive training equipped leaders with critical skills across legal frameworks, financial management systems, legislative processes, public procurement, revenue collection, and accountability mechanisms. Participants were also updated on landmark national legislative and policy reforms, including the Public Financial Management Act 2013, the Policy Blueprint for Ward Development Committees (WDCs), the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) review, and updates to the Provincial Government Act (PGA) 1997.
Speaking earlier during the closing ceremony, Malaita Provincial Premier, Hon. Elijah Asilaua (MPA Ward 11-East Baegu), echoed similar sentiments, demanding strict professional accountability and enhanced institutional capacity across all levels of the Malaita Provincial Government.
Premier for Malaita Province, Hon. Elijah Asilaua (MPA Ward 11-East Baegu)) delivering his remarks during the closing of the Malaita Induction at the Malaita Assembly Chamber on 27th August 2026
“The lessons and discussions throughout this programme remind us that effective provincial government requires collaboration, accountability, transparency, and a shared commitment to good governance,” Premier Asilaua stated. “Each of us has a different role to play, but we are united by one common purpose: to ensure that public resources are managed responsibly and that government services reach and improve the lives of our people and communities.”
To reinforce these governance standards, Premier Asilaua outlined a strict fiscal framework designed to eliminate administrative shortfalls and shift the province toward disciplined self-reliance:
- Administrative Modernization: Digitizing the revenue collection framework, building transparent taxpayer registration databases, and deploying continuous monitoring to eliminate revenue leakages.
- Fiscal Discipline & Management: Restructuring expenditure controls to curb unbudgeted spending, ensuring funds are directed exclusively to essential services and productive investments.
- Internal Resource Optimization: Strengthening internal administrative frameworks to effectively collect existing business licenses, property rates, wharf charges, and provincial service fees.
- Long-Term Economic Strategy: Expanding the province’s economic foundation through sustainable investments in local value-added agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism infrastructure.
The training also gave leaders a clear assessment of the province’s governance challenges. Newly elected members were briefed on successive external audit reports and performance analyses, which highlighted serious and recurring systemic weaknesses across several fiscal years.
Call for a turning point:
Speaking on behalf of the Non-Executive Members of the Assembly, Hon. Philip Kwato’o (MPA Ward 29-Radefasu/Kwaimela) said the induction should mark a decisive shift for Malaita Province. He pointed to severe governance deficiencies that require urgent attention and sustained corrective action.
Speaking on behalf of the non-executive members of the Malaita Provincial Assembly, Hon. Philip Kwato’o (MPA Ward 29-Radefasu/Kwaimela) making closing remarks
“There is a significant difference between an isolated mistake and a problem that continues to appear in audit reports year after year,” Hon. Kwato’o stated, emphasizing that the recurring findings point to a failure of leadership and oversight rather than simple human error. Assembly members were also briefed on the 2024–2025 PCDF assessment report, of 2024-25 which was tabled in May 2026, which showed Malaita ranked last among nine provinces with a score of just 41 points.
“Malaita is one of the country’s largest provinces, with immense agricultural, fisheries, commercial, and human potential,” Hon. Kwato’o noted. “If we continue to rank at the bottom, then we must accept that something needs to change. Malaita does not need more excuses; Malaita needs action.”
Equipped with a comprehensive understanding of the Provincial Government Act 1997, the Financial Management Ordinance 2018, and Assembly Standing Orders, the Non-Executive faction announced they will no longer accept “business as usual.” They are demanding that the Provincial Executive and senior administration immediately implement a firm mandate for structural reform:
- An Audit Recommendation Tracking Mechanism: Assigning clear departmental ownership, specific responsible officers, explicit corrective actions, and strict timeframes for every outstanding audit finding.
- Regular Oversight Reporting: Mandatory regular updates on the implementation of audit corrections to both the Executive and the full Assembly.
- Enforcement of Sanctions: Activating formal accountability mechanisms and legal consequences where deliberate non-compliance or misuse of public resources is identified.
Hon. Kwato’o reminded the Assembly and the public that financial mismanagement has immediate, real-world consequences for ordinary citizens. “When public funds are poorly managed, it is not an abstract accounting problem,” he warned. “It affects schools. It affects health services. It affects roads, infrastructure, water supply, and economic opportunities. Ultimately, poor governance has a real human cost.”
Deputy Premier for Malaita Province, Hon. Randall Sifoni (MPA Ward 30-Langalanga) receiving a booklet with an imprint of the functional roles and responsibilities of the executive members
The Non-Executive Members pledged to utilize their newly solidified knowledge of legislative procedures, procurement processes, and ethical frameworks provided by the Ombudsman Office and the Leadership Code Commission to aggressively scrutinize future budgets, expenditures, and government programs.
Participation and follow-up support:
MPGIS commended Assembly members for their active participation throughout the induction, with special recognition given to the Provincial Public Accounts Committee for its role in strengthening financial oversight. The Ministry also noted that the National Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee was unable to attend because Parliament was in session. To sustain the momentum, MPGIS pledged to provide dedicated follow-up training for the Malaita Provincial Public Accounts Committee, with the possibility of extending similar support to other provincial Public Accounts Committees in Honiara.
The Ministry extended its gratitude to the Solomon Islands Government and the World Bank-funded IEDCR for funding this vital capacity-building initiative, which was heavily supported by the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP), MPGIS technical officers, the Malaita Provincial Secretary, and Heads of Departments for the flawless coordination of the training.
Minister of Community Health and Medical Services, Hon. Roselyn Akomu (MPA Ward 31-Luaniua) receiving the executive functional roles and responsibilities booklet from PS for MPGIS, Dr. Derek Futaiasi
Premier Asilaua also expressed his profound gratitude to the MPGIS leadership, specifically recognizing Minister Rina, Permanent Secretary Dr. Derek Futaiasi, Deputy Secretary–Special Duties Mr. Robert Kaua, and Chief Technical Advisor Mr. Momodou Lamin Sawaneh. He also commended the Leadership Code Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman for providing critical technical guidance and ethical frameworks, wishing the Honiara-based team a safe return journey.
Moving forward, the Malaita Provincial Government reaffirmed its commitment to continuing a close, institutional partnership with the MPGIS through the PGSP and the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) to drive ongoing system audits, build public administrative capacity, and enforce strict compliance rules.
Provincial Secretary for Malaita Province, Eric George Ongoa delivering his acknowledging remarks during the closing of the Malaita Induction on 27th August, 2026
Speaker of Malaita Provincial Assembly and Master of Ceremony for the Malaita Induction training, Hon. Joe Heroau receiving his certificate of participation from the PS for MPGIS, Dr. Derek Futaiasi
One of the non-executive members of the Malaita Provincial Assembly, Hon. Barnabas Amalamu (MPA Ward 19-Aiisi receiving his certificate from PS for MPGIS Dr. Derek Futaiasi
One of the non-executive members of Malaita Provincial Assembly, Hon. Mike Selaga (MPA Ward 7-Fo’ondo/Gwaiau) receiving his certificate
Some of the members of the Provincial Executive during the Malaita Induction training
Some of the non-executive members of the Malaita Provincial Assembly
Deputy Speaker for Malaita Province, Hon. Christian Saoia (MPA Ward 23-Asimae) making a comment during the Malaita Induction training
Chief Technical Advisor of PGSP/MPGIS and Project Manager of IEDCR, Momodou Lamin Sawaneh (centre) being relieved from reading the functional roles and responsibilities of the Provincial executive by Sharon Rua, PPC IEDCR, and Jaimmie Wale, Senior M&E Officer at MPGIS during the introduction
Some of the Malaita Provincial Staff during the Induction training
: Assistance Human Resource Officer of Malaita Province, Florence receiving her certificate