State in Solomon Islands

The Constitution of Solomon Islands is the supreme law. It protects rights including life, liberty, security, protection of the law, conscience, expression, assembly, association, privacy and property. Restrictions may apply to protect the rights of others or the public interest, and special rules may operate during a public emergency. Customary law, common law, equity and judicial precedent are recognised within the constitutional system. Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy. The King of Solomon Islands is the Head of State. The Governor-General represents the King and is appointed by the Head of State on an address from the National Parliament. The Governor-General normally serves five years and may serve no more than two terms. Executive authority formally belongs to the Head of State but is generally exercised by the Governor-General on the advice of Cabinet. The Prime Minister is chosen from among members of Parliament, and the Governor-General appoints ministers on the Prime Minister's advice. As at September 2026, Jerem Manele is Prime Minister and Sir David Tiva Kapu is Governor-General; official Gazette and Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet notices provide the current position when officeholders change. The Solomon Islands Government, commonly called SIG, coordinates national policy through ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, known as OPMC. OPMC supports Cabinet, coordinates policy and monitors implementation. Permanent Secretaries and ministries manage operational administration. The Ministry of Public Service handles human-resources governance. The constitutionally independent Public Service Commission appoints, confirms, removes and disciplines public officers and applies merit-based recruitment and promotion. The Institute of Public Administration and Management provides public-service training. The Attorney-General's Chambers is the government's principal legal adviser, represents the government and drafts legislation. The Director of Public Prosecutions conducts criminal prosecutions. The Public Solicitor provides legal aid and advice to people in need subject to statutory conditions. Formal laws are published through the Gazette, Acts and subsidiary legislation. Service capacity differs between locations because the country is spread across many islands and transport and communications are uneven. The National Parliament is unicameral and has 50 seats. Each constituency elects one Member of Parliament, and the constitutional parliamentary term is four years. Parliamentary proceedings are generally open to the public. Standing Orders provide for questions, petitions, papers, bills and committees. Ten Standing Select Committees examine subjects including legislation, constitutional review, public accounts, public expenditure, and police, national security and correctional services. Committee evidence is usually public, and people may make public submissions where a committee invites them. A petition must be presented through a Member of Parliament. The country has ten administrative areas: the nine provinces of Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Isabel, Makira-Ulawa, Malaita, Rennell-Bellona, Temotu and Western, plus Honiara City. Provincial Governments operate through Provincial Assemblies and executives under the Provincial Government Act 1997. Honiara is administered by Honiara City Council and its Mayor. The Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening supports this decentralised structure. Consultations on reform of provincial government were continuing in 2026, but no Federal State had entered into force; a federal constitution remained a reform proposal. Public money is held through the Consolidated Fund, and spending follows appropriations and constitutional financial rules. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury manages fiscal and budget policy, revenue collection, financial reporting, government payments and the annual recurrent budget. The 2026 Budget projected revenue of SBD 5,473.2 million, including SBD 4,502.3 million in domestic revenue and SBD 970.9 million in donor budget support. It projected expenditure of SBD 6,021.2 million and a deficit of SBD 548 million, approximately 3.5 percent of GDP. Recurrent and development estimates are presented separately. Debt, borrowing, tax reform and expenditure control remain part of public-finance management. Budget implementation for 2026 began on 1 January 2026. The Auditor-General audits public accounts, public money and public property and reports annually. The Public Accounts Committee examines public accounts, Auditor-General reports and estimates. The Public Expenditure Committee examines spending and value for money. The Leadership Code applies to the Governor-General, Prime Minister and ministers, Members of Parliament, the Speaker, constitutional commissions, public officers, provincial and Honiara officers, and statutory corporations and agencies. It requires integrity, avoidance of conflicts of interest and protection of official confidence, and financial-affairs disclosure follows the Leadership Code (Further Provisions) Act. The Office of the Ombudsman investigates maladministration, including arbitrary or unfair administrative decisions. Any person, group, Member of Parliament or third party may submit a complaint to the Ombudsman about a government officer, public body or government contractor. A complaint may be made in writing, by email, by telephone or in person, and the office provides confidentiality and may accept anonymous complaints. The Ombudsman can refer a matter to the Leadership Code Commission for misconduct in office, the Auditor-General for public-money concerns, the Independent Commission Against Corruption for corruption, or the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force for possible criminal conduct. Other matters may go to the Public Service Commission, the Speaker, the Chief Justice or the responsible minister for a local authority. The Anti-Corruption Act 2018 provides for the Independent Commission Against Corruption, but the official material reviewed did not clearly establish its current operational status in September 2026. Complaint fees and investigation deadlines are institution-specific; no single State-wide fee or deadline applies. The Constitution protects freedom of expression, assembly and association. Parliament's library, Hansard and business papers provide access to parliamentary information. The Government Communication Unit and OPMC handle government information, media liaison and archives, while the Gazette and legislation portals publish formal legal information. Practical access is more difficult when services and records are concentrated in Honiara or when internet, transport and provincial capacity are limited. National security is coordinated by the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services. The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force maintains law and order, prevents and detects crime, apprehends offenders, supports court processes, protects life and property, responds to emergencies, conducts land and marine search and rescue, handles explosive ordnance and assists with dispute resolution. The Police and Prisons Service Commission manages constitutional appointments and discipline for the relevant services. The Correctional Services of Solomon Islands provides secure and humane custody, rehabilitation and reintegration. The National Security Strategy 2025 covers sovereignty, territorial integrity, border and maritime security, and transnational and other non-traditional threats. The National Border Coordinating Committee coordinates border agencies, including immigration and customs. A national Border Management System and eVisa rollout continued during 2025 and 2026, and the Lofung Western Border Outpost and Patrol Boat Base became operational in August 2026. The National Disaster Management Office is the Secretariat of the National Disaster Council. It supports national, provincial and community disaster-risk planning, warnings, response, recovery and public awareness. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology coordinates climate and disaster matters. Tsunami and other all-hazards warnings are especially relevant because the country is exposed to cyclones, tsunamis and difficult maritime access. State services follow the rules of the relevant Act or agency. There is no uniform access tariff for all public services; court, legal-aid and administrative fees depend on the applicable law. Justice pathways include Local Courts, Magistrates' Courts, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Customary Land Appeal Court. Formal institutions and customary or local dispute-resolution practices can operate alongside one another, but customary law remains subject to the Constitution and legislation. Public officers and leaders have duties of integrity and lawful administration, while residents and citizens must comply with applicable laws and public-order and security rules.