Prime Minister hosts first-ever Thank You Reception for Media and Church Representatives

Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele today hosted a first-ever ‘Thank You’ Reception in Honiara for media and church representatives to recognise their 2025 contributions.

He noted that engagement with churches and the media is an ongoing feature of the work of the Prime Minister’s Office. 

The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet holds weekday morning devotions at 8.00am, with representatives from the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) and the Solomon Islands Full Gospel Association (SIFGA) regularly invited to share devotion with the Prime Minister and staff. 

The Prime Minister also acknowledged regular press conferences and media coverage of government programmes and national events, which help keep the public informed.

“This reception is the first of its kind, a deliberate step to recognise the important bridge between government and the people,” Prime Minister Manele said.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that 2025 had been a challenging year for many, particularly for media organisations operating under pressure and with limited resources.

“Even when reporting raises difficult questions, your work plays an important role in keeping us accountable and ensuring the public remains well-informed,” Prime Minister Manele said.

He said public confidence is strengthened when reporting is guided not only by immediacy, but also by an appreciation of due process, context, and the responsibilities involved in government decision-making. 

“When information is presented fully and fairly, it serves the national interest and helps foster informed public discussion”, Prime Minister Manele said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the enduring contribution of the Church in strengthening moral and spiritual foundations in communities, offering moral guidance, social support, and hope where the machinery of the state cannot always reach.

“In an era marked by social change and economic pressure, the role of our churches remains essential. At a time when communities can easily become divided or discouraged, the Government values the steady moral voice of the Church in promoting truth, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence. You are, indeed, the quiet anchors in a shifting world,” he said.

The Prime Minister extended his appreciation to church and media representatives for their service throughout 2025 and conveyed Christmas and New Year wishes on behalf of the Government for National Unity and Transformation.

[end]

Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat