It’s been a busy news year for us at In-depth Solomons. And so as we close 2024, we bring you what we believe were the highlights of our news coverage for this year.
Poor state of the economy, national elections, a new prime minister, unexplained property wealth, failed health and road projects, media interference, drug seizures, a secret off-shore company, and an unfinished water project for Honiara. These are In-depth Solomons “most read” stories for 2024.
1. Solomons Economy In ‘Precarious State’ As Parties Lobby to Form New Government
As newly elected Members of Parliament converged into capital Honiara to form the new Government, the Central Bank sounded a grim warning that the national economy is in a “precarious state”.
2. Solomon Islands PM Has Millions in Property, Raising Questions Around Wealth
A joint investigation by In-depth Solomons and our international partner OCCRP had uncovered then Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s questionable property wealth.
3. Is the Hope for improved health services in East Malaita Constituency fading?
A $40 million hospital promised for the people of East Malaita by their Member of Parliament Manasseh Maelanga remains in-complete six years after it was launched. It’s now an eye-sore to the villagers who walk by every day.
4. Unplanned, Underfunded and Unfinished: Bradley Tovosia’s Road to Nowhere
East Guadalcanal MP and Minister for Mines Bradley Tovosia built a road for his people to connect them to Honiara. But there’s one problem: it’s headed the wrong way. Today, work has stopped while the road is being covered by creepers.
5. Leaked emails show China interfering in Solomons media
Indications of China’s attempt to control the narrative in local media reporting were exposed in emails leaked to In-depth Solomons.
6. Police raids found meth in Honiara; Seized drugs destroyed, claims commissioner
A number of police raids carried out in east Honiara resulted in the seizure of a small amount of the stimulant drug meth. But controversy overshadowed the operation when a senior police officer demanded that the drugs be surrendered to him for “safe keeping”.
7. O.U.R. Party Figures Set Up China-Linked Overseas Company Months Before Election
An investigation by In-depth Solomons found a secret off-shore company the Minister for Police and National Security and President of OUR Party Jimson Tanangada established in Singapore with a mysterious Chinese partner.
8. How Solomon Islands’ Donor-Funded Water Plant Became a Costly Failure
Our year concluded with a joint investigation with our international partner OCCRP into the multi-million dollar Solomon Water treatment plant that is now stalled due to contractual failures.
