The Governor-General, Tiva Kapu, has urged Solomon Islanders to protect democracy, act with urgency, and confront climate change, youth unemployment and drug abuse as interconnected national calamities.
Speaking during celebrations for King Charles III’s 77th official birthday last Friday, Sir David reflected on the nation’s recent 9-week political impasse and set out priorities for the new government with just two years left before Parliament dissolves.
Sir David said the period from March to 15 May 2026 tested the limits of the Constitution and democratic maturity.
The impasse began with ministerial resignations that left the previous government in the minority, followed by a delayed motion of no confidence.
“It is a testament to the strength of our rule of law that, when the political executive and the parliamentary opposition could not find common ground, our citizens and their leaders turned to the judiciary,” he said.
He praised the High Court and Court of Appeal for swift rulings on when Parliament must meet, calling the litigation “not a sign of institutional failure, but a demonstration of our democratic safeguards at work.”
The GG acknowledged the service of the former Prime Minister and the government, and congratulated the new GREAT coalition.
“Let the events of March to May serve as a reminder that our peace is precious, our Constitution is sacred, and our democracy is only as strong as our willingness to respect the rules we have set,” he said.
With approximately two years remaining, Sir David said that time is “a blink of an eye” for structural change. He called on the Prime Minister and Cabinet to lead with decisiveness, transparency and focus on high-impact policies.
“We cannot afford business as usual. We cannot afford the luxury of division or unnecessary infighting,” he said.
He urged Parliament to fast-track critical Bills, including the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and Mining and Mineral Resource Bill, asking: “What good is a perfect process if the people we are trying to protect perish while we deliberate?”
He also called on MPs to rise above partisan interests, and for the private sector, civil society, churches and development partners to align with the Government’s urgent agenda.
Sir David described climate change as Solomon Islands’ “most existential threat,” saying it is “not a subject for academic debate in distant capitals, but a daily reality washing away our shorelines.”
He cited sinking outer island atolls, saltwater intrusion killing food gardens, and unpredictable weather threatening fishermen.
“We are paying the price for a crisis we did not create,” he said. He urged the Government to continue as a “vocal, uncompromising voice on the global stage” while shifting domestically from survival to adaptation through climate-resilient infrastructure, mangrove protection and freshwater security.
The Governor General linked climate displacement, urban migration, unemployment and drug abuse as one web of crises. With over 70 percent of Solomon Islanders under 30, he said “that engine is idling” due to a lack of jobs and training in urban centres.
“Idleness is the breeding ground for social decay. We cannot afford a lost generation,” he warned.
He called methamphetamine and marijuana a “poison that threatens the very soul of our society,” shattering the wantok system and fueling violence and gangs.
He urged RSIPF to be “ruthless” on supply chains while funding community-led rehabilitation.
His solution: a “Green-Blue Economy” using sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, carbon credits, and heavy investment in technical and vocational training.
“Our youth are not a problem to be managed; they are a resource to be developed,” Sir David said.
Sir David acknowledged Tropical Cyclone Maila’s severe damage in April to Choiseul, Western, Isabel, Guadalcanal and Central Islands Provinces. He thanked the Government, development partners, NGOs, churches and communities for relief and recovery efforts, and declared solidarity with affected families.
To the diplomatic corps, Sir David assured that Solomon Islands values their friendship and seeks “enduring, practical, future-focused” partnerships in trade, education, security, fisheries, tourism and climate resilience.
“Your cooperation is valued. And your presence in our shared journey is deeply appreciated,” he said.
“Let these next two years be defined not by what we lacked, but by what we achieved through unity,” the Governor-General concluded.
“Let us move forward as one people, with one heart, towards a common destiny,” he said.
