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Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development defends office rental amid MP Kumi’s criticism over rental costs.
The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has issued a public statement defending its continued rental of office space in Honiara, following widespread criticism of its rental expenses.
The Member of Parliament for Temotu Nende, Stephen Kumi, raised concerns during a recent Parliamentary Expenditure Committee (PEC) hearing, questioning why the ministry continues to rent office space after nearly two decades instead of investing in a permanent headquarter. Kumi also criticized the significant cost of the rental, reportedly amounting to $300,000 per month for the office headquarter at the Tongs Building in Point Cruz.
In its statement, MEHRD clarified that it is not the only government ministry renting office space in Honiara. This has been a common practice for more than two decades due to a shortage of purpose-built government office buildings. Only a few ministries currently occupy government-owned offices.
The ministry further explained that since 2014, it has made several attempts to secure land to build its own office building, including proposals for the former Parliament Rest House site and land currently occupied by the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM). However, both efforts were unsuccessful due to lack of approval and land availability.
“These difficulties are not unique to MEHRD,” the statement read. “Many ministries face similar challenges in acquiring land through clean and transparent processes in Honiara, especially in the Central Business District, where government-owned land is scarce.”
MEHRD defended its decision to rent office space at Tongs Building, stating that the arrangement ensures a central, safe, and accessible location for the ministry’s staff, students, teachers, and the public who rely on MEHRD services. The ministry emphasized that rental payments to Tongs Ltd are a legitimate business transaction that helps sustain local jobs and contributes to national revenue through taxes and National Provident Fund (NPF) contributions.
Responding to Kumi’s comments, MEHRD described them as “misleading and unnecessary,” noting that such criticisms do not address the broader issue of the lack of suitable land for government offices.
The Parliamentary Expenditure Committee, where Kumi made his remarks, is responsible for reviewing government spending to ensure transparency and accountability. The committee scrutinizes financial reports, investigates concerns over expenditures, and makes recommendations to improve the management of public funds. MEHRD officials appeared before the committee under parliamentary privilege to respond to inquiries regarding their expenditure. During the parliamentary hearing, MEHRD officials also highlighted that land originally allocated to the ministry had been sold to Solomon Ports.
While MEHRD reaffirmed its long-term goal of securing a permanent office building, the ministry stressed that the process is complex and requires careful coordination, land availability, and compliance with legal procedures.
The ministry concluded by calling for constructive dialogue with stakeholders rather than unsubstantiated criticisms, and reaffirmed its commitment to responsible financial management and the continued development of the education sector in Solomon Islands.
