Latest news with #JeremiahManele
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Solomon Islands PM Manele visiting New Zealand this week
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is visiting Aotearoa this week. Luxon said Solomon Islands is an important partner for New Zealand and he is looking forward to furthering the bilateral relationship when he meets Manele. "It will also be good to hear about Solomon Islands' plans for hosting the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in September," Luxon said. Manele will also meet with Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones. One thousand one hundred Solomon Islanders have taken up Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme spots in Aotearoa in the last year. More than 1000 Solomon Islanders call New Zealand home. Manele was sworn in as Solomons prime minister on 2 May 2024 , following the resignation of Manasseh Sogavare. Shortly after Winston Peters arrived with a delegation on the first leg of his Pacific tour . He was first elected to parliament in 2014 and was the leader of the opposition in the country's 10th Parliament. Prior to entering parliament, Manele was a long-serving public servant and diplomat. He has since faced two leadership challenges but both were withdrawn.
ABC News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Questions over Solomon Islands sovereignty, as cabinet weighs up Taiwan PIF entry
An opposition MP in Solomon Islands says the country risks creating a wedge in the solidarity of the Pacific Islands Forum if it refuses to allow Taiwan to attend. According to local media Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele last week said cabinet is yet to decide whether Taiwanese government representatives will be allowed into the country to attend the Forum's leaders summit in Honiara this September. Taiwan has been a development partner of the Forum since the 1990s but the Solomons has cut all bilateral ties since it switched diplomatic allegiance to China in 2019. Earlier this year Taiwanese officials were blocked from entering Honiara on a preparatory trip ahead of the leaders summit, reportedly at the "behest of China." Opposition M-P Peter Kenilorea Jr says these incidents, and the ongoing uncertainty around Taiwan's attendance, are shocking and raise questions about China's impact on the country's sovereignty.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Solomon King FC in contention for inaugural OFC Professional League
Solomon Islands' Central Coast FC in action against Vanuatu's Ifira Black Bird FC at the OFC Men's Champions League 2025 in Honiara. 6 April 2025 Photo: OFC The Solomon Islands' lone football club in the running to be part of the new Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) League Professiobal League has been revealed. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has confirmed that Solomon King FC is one of the 13 clubs now awaiting final selection by the OFC, who will be annoucing the teams that will be part of the new league in September. The OFC Professional League is set to kick-off in January 2026. In a statement, Manele said that a new partnership forged between the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and the Brisbane-based Wynnum Wolves Football Club would help the new club. "In what is described as a major boost for Solomon Islands football, the partnership between SIFF and Wynnum Wolves FC will see the establishment of the country's first professional football club ahead of the newly introduced Oceania Football Confederation Pro League," the statement said. "Under this landmark partnership, SIFF will form a team to compete in the OFC Pro League, to be named Solomon King FC. "Solomon King FC will be the nation's first professional football club, comprising 18 local players and six international recruits. The team will be based in both Honiara and Brisbane, Australia, and will play matches across six different venues within the Pacific region. "Players will also have potential pathways to the German Bundesliga through Wynnum Wolves FC's relationship with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund." Manele expressed his appreciation to the Wynnum Wolves FC's President Rabieh Krayem. He also met with SIFF President Donald Marahare and SIFF chief executive Leonard Paia. OFC Professional League project manager Stuart Larman told RNZ Pacific on Tuesday that the Solomon Islands club is one of the teams now in the final phase. "Considering the club have announced their partnership, we can acknowledge that they Solomon Kings are one of the clubs that have applied to be in the OFCPL and that their application will be reviewed, as with all applicant clubs, after the 18 July deadline," Larman said, responding to queries raised with him. "As the only applicant club from the Solomon Islands, they will need to meet all the minimum requirements to attain a Club License to be recommended to the OFC Exco for entry into the OFCPL 2026." The OFC says there are currently 13 clubs from around the region vying to be selected, with the final eight teams expected to be known in August, with licenses to be given in September. In May, the confederation confirmed that there are six OFC Member Associations who have clubs in the list, with two from Fiji, two from Papua New Guinea, one each from Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu, with the other two clubs from Australia. "We expect the quality of submissions to continue at the same level as we have seen in the first phase of the Club Application Process," Larman told the media in May. The OFC Club Licensing Committee will pass its recommendations to the OFC Executive Committee in August and the eight selected clubs will be confirmed in September. The competition will run from early January until the end of May, with each club playing a minimum of 17 matches. There will be five circuit series rounds at various Pacific locations in a double round-robin format before the teams are split into two playoff groups, Leaders and Challengers.
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Solomon Islands PM fires chief of staff over unauthorised Vietnam deal
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has sacked his chief of staff Mack Faddean Aoraunisaka after an "unauthorised" deal with two Vietnamese firms last week. RNZ Pacific understands that Aoraunisaka "coerced" Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration Minister Jaimie Vokia into traveling to Vietnam and meet with multinational consulting firm SI Group with which he has a connection. There, they signed a controversial memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which would give SI Group and its client Growmax (a fisheries company), special commercial privileges. Vokia now faces a "disciplinary process" and possible explosion as a minister. Mack Faddean Aoraunisaka Photo: Solomon Islands Government On Friday, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister's Office issued a press statement to farewell Aoraunisaka. It stated that Aoraunisaka was "instrumental in the development and implementation of the Government for National Unity and Transformation policy during his tenure". However, Manele told a news conference the next day that his office is reviewing the relevant protocols, and that all ministers and staff are on notice. "I'm reminding my ministers that they must get permission to have to remember that any MOUs have to come to Cabinet to get a mandate." "Let me be clear, the MOU that was signed is non-binding." On Sunday, the Foreign Investment Division in the Ministry of Commerce issued a statement saying SI Group has no legal right to conduct business in the Solomons. "[SI Group's] presence in the Solomon Islands carrying out commercial activity without foreign investment approval or company incorporation violates the laws of this country." In 2024, parliament passed legislation allowing the government to create geographical zones, within which certain regulations or taxes can be bypassed. These SEZs can be established by corporations in partnership with the government to produce exports, store and process goods, conduct business services, or for tourism development. Incentives include wide-ranging tax and duty exemptions, automatic work permits for foreign employees, business visas, and the creation of "sub-zones" spread out across the whole country. Despite the controversy, Manele told reporters that the government will still push ahead with its SEZ policy. According to its website, SI Group describes itself as "the premier provider of global immigration solutions, trading consultancy, import-export business, and international real estate investment". The group claims to have operations in 20 countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Photo: Hand-out Vokia travelled alongside Aoraunisaka and one other staffer to SI Group's headquarters to sign the MOU before 2 June. A co-signatory to the MOU was Growmax Group, which describes itself as "Vietnam's leading professional shrimp industry group". Vokia agreed to an SEZ with SI Group and Growmax that would grant commercial privileges for numerous different projects. These included a shrimp farm, fisheries processing hub, gold and bauxite mines, a hospital, vocational training centres, a logistics hub with cold storage, energy, water and telecom infrastructure, and a "dedicated SEZ bank". There would also be "a luxury resort, casino, and golf course" even though the SEZ legislation explicitly excludes casinos. The MOU set out a six-month timeframe to formalise the SEZ agreement, including finalising the "legal and regulatory frameworks". SI Group would have a special "strategic adviser and priority investor" with the role of "supporting legal, financial, and regulatory alignment to attract long-term investment". They described the Solomons as "positioning itself as a new frontier for global investment". RNZ understands that Aoranunisaka has connections within SI Group. Aoraunisaka featured in an SI Group press release from April 2025 entitled "Solomon Island government reaffirms citizenship is not for sale", which hinted at the potential for a citizenship by investment programme, or golden passport, in the future. "The [government] remains committed to establishing, if pursued, a Citizenship by Investment program based on rigorous due diligence, transparency, robust regulation, and above all, the preservation of Solomon Islands' sovereignty and national pride." "The necessary legislative, regulatory, and operational frameworks are still under development." A spokesperson for Prime Minister Manele told RNZ Pacific that Vokia has not yet been sacked or suspended. "The Prime Minister's decision on what action to take is yet to be known," the spokesperson said. The Kadare Party, of which Vokia is the sole member in parliament, came to the defence of SI Group on Tuesday. SI Group is sponsorring a free concert to promote the Kadare Party on 12 July, starring dancehall reggae artist Busy Signal . In a news conference with a SI Group senior director by his side, party executive member Martin Housanau defended their presence in the Solomons. "The event that is happening now is a non-commissioned activity, and under the laws it doesn't benefit [the SI Group] in any convening [the event]." Aoraunisaka has been replaced by former MP Douglas Ete. SI Group did not respond to RNZ Pacific's request for comment.
ABC News
29-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Surge of Australian visa applications in Tuvalu prompts fears of brain drain
On the program today More than a third of Tuvalu citizens enter the special engagement visa ballot to permanently relocate to Australia. Palau President Surangle Whipps Junior declares the Pacific Mini Games open. Jeremiah Manele backs his police force to provide security at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Meeting. Papua New Guinea's Acting Health Secretary denies reports the country has a HIV crisis. Bougainville signs an agreement with US-British charity HALO Trust to clear unexploded ordnance. A Fair Work investigation identifis hotspots of worker exploitation within the PALM Scheme. An Australian inquiry into modern slavery and the risks faced by temporary migrant workers holds its first regional hearing.
