Group photo of the Ministry of Public Service (MPS) PSLSD Taskforce Team with workshop participants from the Malaita Provincial Government (MPG). Permanent Secretary Cheka is positioned fourth from the front row, left to right.
National Socialization of the Public Service Act 2025 and Stakeholder Consultation on Draft Public Service Regulations and Orders Convened in Auki
The Ministry of Public Service (MPS) today continued the national rollout of the Public Service Act 2025 in Auki, Malaita Province, following the successful completion of the Tulagi engagement. The Auki session forms part of a four-day national socialisation and consultation programme designed to engage senior government officials, technical officers, and key stakeholders from across the public service in the province. The programme aims to strengthen shared understanding of the new legislative framework and support inclusive dialogue on its effective implementation across government agencies.
Convened by the Ministry of Public Service, the programme will runs from 12 to 15 of May 2026 and focuses on two interrelated objectives: the national socialisation of the Public Service Act 2025 and consultation on the Draft Public Service Regulations and Public Service Orders that will support its implementation.
The programme commenced with a courtesy engagement between the MPS Executive Team and the Malaita Provincial Executive. The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm collaboration between national and provincial leadership and to set expectations for the week’s activities, particularly in strengthening institutional alignment as public service reforms transition into implementation.
Ministry of Public Service Executive Team during a courtesy call with the Malaita Provincial Government Executive. Front row (left to right): DS, WFM, Mr David Suirara; Permanent Secretary/MPS, Mr Luke Cheka; Provincial Secretary, Malaita Provincial Government, Mr Eric George; and DS GPM, Mr Ian Rakafia.
During the courtesy call, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Mr Cheka, highlighted the importance of strong intergovernmental coordination in ensuring the successful implementation of the Public Service Act 2025. He emphasised that provincial administrations play a critical role in translating national policy reforms into practical service delivery outcomes and underscored that sustained collaboration between national and provincial levels will be essential to achieving the objectives of the reform agenda.
Mr Cheka subsequently formally opened the socialisation workshop, noting that the reform agenda represents a significant shift in the governance, management, and performance of the public service. He stressed that the success of the reforms will depend on their clear understanding and consistent application in day-to-day administrative practice across all levels of government.
He stated that, “the Public Service Act 2025 provides the legal foundation for more effective management and administration of the Solomon Islands public service workforce. It responds to emerging governance and workforce challenges that were not adequately addressed under the previous legislative framework.”
The Act strengthens core provisions relating to merit-based recruitment, ethical conduct, discipline, performance management, and workforce accountability. It is intended to modernise public service governance and promote a more professional, transparent, and performance-oriented system.
The accompanying Draft Public Service Regulations and Public Service Orders were highlighted as critical instruments for implementation. These frameworks will operationalise the Act by translating its provisions into clear administrative procedures and human resource management processes across ministries and agencies.
The Auki engagement is being conducted as a structured participatory consultation process. Officers from across government are actively contributing operational insights and practical experience to inform the refinement of the PS Regulations and PS Orders, ensuring they are practical, implementable, and responsive to institutional needs.
Throughout the week, technical sessions will also examine key supporting reform instruments, including the Public Service Transformation Strategy, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Framework, and the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy. These initiatives form part of the broader reform agenda and are designed to strengthen system-wide performance, enhance accountability, and promote more inclusive and effective public service delivery.
Mr Cheka emphasised that these reform instruments are deliberately aligned within a coordinated implementation framework. Together, they are intended to strengthen leadership, improve institutional efficiency, and support evidence-based decision-making across the public service.
The Public Service Act 2025 was passed by Parliament on 24 October 2025 and assented to on 20 November 2025. It will come into force on a date to be determined by the Minister for Public Service, following the completion of nationwide consultations and socialisation activities.
The Ministry confirmed that the Auki engagement marks a critical milestone in the national rollout process, with further provincial consultations planned to ensure broad-based awareness, stakeholder engagement, and institutional readiness across the public service system.