BY JOY OFASIA
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has stressed that clean water and proper sanitation are not just basic needs—but essential pillars of Solomon Islands’ national development and planning.
Speaking at the official opening of the 9th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers (PWWM) Forum and the 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Conference and Expo (PWWC25) Conference on Monday, Prime Minister Manele said water and sanitation are at the heart of the country’s development goals.
“Water connects to health, education, agriculture, and energy and climate resilience. Every dollar invested in water is an investment in people, in livelihoods and in our shared future,” he told the regional audience gathered at the Friendship Hall in Honiara.
The Prime Minister highlighted that improving water and wastewater services is a national priority, reflected in both the National Development Strategy and the Solomon Islands Water Sector Plan. These goals, he said, are also aligned with the Government for National Unity’s Trans-Atlantic Policy Statement.
“Some of our national statistics on water and wastewater need significant improvements,” he admitted. “That is why we are strengthening our institutions, climate-proofing our infrastructure, and integrating resilience into planning—from the village level to national planning.”
Manele encouraged regional cooperation and investment in water services across the Pacific, noting that access to clean water and sanitation is a shared challenge for many island nations.
The weeklong Conference, held from August 25 to 29, brings together government leaders, water experts, and stakeholders from across the region to discuss and shape the future of water and wastewater management in the Pacific.