BY NED GAGAHE
Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has called on government to implement a cohesive, long-term strategy to eradicate poverty in the Solomon Islands,
He criticised the 2025 Appropriation Bill for its lack of meaningful solutions to address the nation’s deepening poverty crisis.
In his speech during the second reading of the 2025 budget yesterday, Wale said poverty continues to be a persistent and systemic issue in the country, with many Solomon Islanders facing daily struggles to meet their basic needs.
He argued that the government’s policies thus far have offered insufficient relief, and merely stating an intention to alleviate poverty is inadequate in the face of the urgent need for transformative change.
“The government must articulate and implement a clearly defined anti-poverty strategy that goes beyond rhetoric.
“We need a policy grounded in rigorous analysis of the root causes of poverty, one that can deliver real, transformative outcomes.”
Wale pointed out that poverty is not just an urban issue but is felt deeply in rural areas, where many communities struggle with a lack of access to basic services, education and employment opportunities.
He stressed that unless government takes bold action and reforms existing systems, poverty will continue to trap future generations in a cycle of hardship.
Citing past income surveys, Wale highlighted the growing depth and breadth of poverty across the country, with the gap between the rich and the poor continuing to widen.
He called on the government to acknowledge its role in addressing this issue.
“If the government does nothing to address poverty inside households, then it is failing the very people it is meant to serve.”
He also underlined government’s failure to adequately invest in education, healthcare, and social services has left many families without the means to escape poverty.
He argued that a lack of strategic planning and insufficient budget allocations have resulted in continued deprivation for the most vulnerable communities in the country.
“We can eradicate, totally eradicate poverty from within our population. Sir, to achieve meaningful change, government must articulate and implement a cohesive, clearly defined anti-poverty strategy, one that is grounded in rigorous analysis of the root causes and one that is capable of delivering transformative outcomes, where the transformative government is, was formed for. So, it is a very important thing.”
