From the High Commissioner’s Desk – Rod Hilton

In my first week in Solomon Islands, I had the pleasure of hearing Avaiki music legends Kaumaakonga perform at our Australia Day celebrations. It was a wonderful introduction to the cultural diversity and enormous talent of your country, and great moment of cultural exchange between Australia and Solomon Islands.
Australia knows that supporting infrastructure is incredibly important, especially in smaller provinces like Renbel. Since arriving in Solo, I have approved 4 small-scale infrastructure projects in Renbel through the Solomon Islands – Australia Community Partnerships grants. These projects are worth more than SBD 1 million. This money goes directly to Solomon Islands businesses for hardware and shipping. These community projects include:
 a community hall in Hatagua
 a water supply project in Taubangib
 fencing and solar lighting around the Nuku Health Centre
 the new Pangangiu Community Hub in Matangi Ward, which will feature a solar powered computer lab, a cultural education centre and a community hall.

I can’t wait to see the finished projects!
Due to the lack of commercial shipping options to Renbel, Australia chartered a vessel to take the materials for these projects to the province in 2023. We were delighted we were also able help the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development by putting some schoolbooks on board too!
Australia has been partnering with Solomon Islands to improve health services and health outcomes for over 20 years. Through direct grants to Renbel, we have provided over SBD 3.2 million since 2018.  Australia is also Solomon Islands’ nambawan education partner, helping kids access a good education. In partnership with the Solomon Islands and New Zealand governments, our support is training teachers, providing school textbooks, and building critical school infrastructure across all provinces. We have provided SBD 3.4m for Renbel since 2019.

It’s great to see so many people from Renbel taking up job opportunities in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. So far, 79 hard working men and women from Renbel have participated in the PALM scheme; working in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, aged-care and meat processing. And sending money home to support their families and communities. I understand people from Renbel, as with other Solomon Islanders, want to deepen connections with Australia, and improve access and migration opportunities, and we have listened. Australia recently announced the new Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) for our Pacific Island neighbours. This will provide Solomon Islanders with a new pathway to live, study and work in Australia. I encourage eligible people from Renbel to apply in the PEV ballot, which will close on 1 August 2024. 

For more information visit: https://www.pev.gov.au

Through our law and justice partnership, Australia has supported training for Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) investigations and prosecutions officers in Renbel. Officers were trained using a new ‘Charge Wording Book’ that Australia helped create through our justice program. The Charge Wording Book and training will help police officers to charge people accused of crimes, by using consistent language. Through our law and justice partnership Australia is helping to make Solomon Islands more safe and secure. Australia also helps support women and keep them safe in Renbel by providing funding to the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Women’s Rights Action Movement, and the Solomon Islands National Council of Women. Since arriving in Solomon Islands, I have visited Western, Isabel, Central, Malaita, Makira-Ulawa, Choiseul and Guadalcanal Provinces. While I haven’t visited Renbel yet, I look forward to seeing this
beautiful province and all the important work being delivered by the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership. I’ve enjoyed meeting the new Renbel leadership team since the April 2024 elections. This week, I sat down for a tok stori with Honourable Derek Pongi, the new Premier for Renbel. We talked about how proud he is of his culture, and his priorities for his term in office, including infrastructure development and increasing economic opportunities. I thanked him for his kind invitation to visit Renbel later this year, and I look forward to it!

I’d like to wish iufala evriwan blo Renbel Province: Happy Second Appointed Day on 20 July! Lukim iu neks taem!