GREAT Coalition strengthens PMO capacity with skilled appointments to improve policy coordination, reforms and government service delivery.
Honiara, 13 July 2026: The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has strengthened the capacity of its Political Division to better support the implementation of the GREAT Coalition’s policy and development programmes.
The move is part of broader institutional reforms aimed at improving coordination, policy quality, and service delivery across Government ministries.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet today said the focus of the reform is on building professional capacity, not simply on numbers.
The appointment of the current 58 appointees is a relatively modest increase from the GNUT’s previous 45 in view of the significance of the GREAT Coalition’s policy direction and reform agenda.
“Where Government work is substantial, technical, and time-bound, we need qualified people at the centre to coordinate, advise and monitor implementation,” the statement said.
“The question is not how many people, but what value they add to delivering results for Solomon Islanders.”
The Political Division within the Office of the Prime Minister plays a central role in translating Government policy into practical programmes. Its key functions include:
Policy Coordination: Working with ministries to align work plans with Government priorities and set clear implementation timeframes
Legislative and Policy Support: Identifying reform needs and providing legal and policy drafting assistance to improve the quality of Bills and Cabinet papers
Monitoring and Problem-Solving: Tracking delivery against priorities and resolving financial, legal and technical bottlenecks early
Specialist Advice: Providing expertise in areas such as finance, law, telecommunications, climate change and environment to support better decision-making
The Government statement said these functions have been under-resourced in the past, contributing to delays, weak policy submissions, and legislation being returned for redrafting. Strengthening this unit is intended to address those longstanding gaps.
The GREAT Coalition’s reform agenda is ambitious and covers accountability, decentralisation, economic transformation, and service delivery. To deliver these ambitions, the Government requires strong coordination and technical support at the coordination centre.
“Professional input helps Government avoid costly errors, improve legislation, and speed up programme delivery. For example, stronger legal and policy capacity can improve the quality of laws. At the same time, financial and economic advice can support better budget planning and reduce supplementary funding requests,” the statement said.
The statement emphasised that the investment is also about building systems and expertise that will benefit future administrations.
“This is about building a stronger, more capable centre of government,” the statement said. “Our focus is on professionalism, accountability and results. The ultimate measure is not how many people are employed, but the problems they help solve and the services delivered to our people,” the statement added.
The Government’s seriousness in recruiting skilled professionals is reflected in its pool of current PAs. The current recruitment engages highly qualified professionals with extensive experience in various specialised fields, including lawyers, accountants, economists, political analysts, and other technical professions.
It added that political appointees play a vital role in modern democratic governments.
“Political appointees bring expertise, energy and a direct link between the Government’s mandate and its delivery on the ground. They help cut through bureaucracy, keep ministries aligned, and ensure the people’s priorities are acted on without delay,” the statement said.
“Recruiting the right people with the right skills is not a cost. It is an investment in better laws, faster implementation, and stronger results for Solomon Islanders.”
The strengthened Political Division will continue to work closely with line ministries, the Law Reform Commission, and development partners to ensure the Coalition’s programmes are delivered efficiently and transparently.
SOURCE: GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT
