Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has been formally briefed by the Auditor General and international audit firm KPMG Fiji on emerging findings from the long-awaited audit of the 2023 Pacific Games — a major regional event that was both a national milestone and one of the country’s largest publicly funded undertakings.
In a meeting held in Honiara on 5 December 2025, Solomon Islands Auditor General David Dennis and KPMG representatives outlined to the Prime Minister several critical observations identified in the audit of Pacific Games spending and procurement from 2019–2023, including delays caused by missing documentation, slow information release from implementing bodies, and the need for stronger consistency in public financial management standards.
What Auditors Told the Prime Minister
According to the briefing:
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Audit work for 2020–2021 is complete, but auditors are still resolving “a small number of outstanding queries” — largely related to expenditure explanations and incomplete procurement records.
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KPMG has now moved to the final phase, covering the high-spending period of 2022–2023, when most Games-related contracts, infrastructure payments, and operational procurements were executed.
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The team stressed that delayed access to financial records contributed to the prolonged audit timeline.
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Auditors highlighted the need to strengthen documentation discipline, procurement transparency, and timely reporting across government agencies and Games-implementing bodies.
These matters were explicitly raised with the Prime Minister as essential governance issues requiring systemic improvements ahead of any future national-scale projects.
Government Response
Prime Minister Manele acknowledged that the audit is of strong public interest, both domestically and internationally, given the size of the Games budget and the expectations for transparency around its expenditure.
While reiterating that the Games were widely viewed as one of the most successful ever hosted in the Pacific, he emphasised that delivery processes must meet high integrity standards, and not just outcomes.
“The way we delivered the Games is equally important,” Manele said.
“The lessons learned will strengthen how we plan and implement major projects in the future.”
The Prime Minister also expressed support for the finalisation of remaining queries and said he expects significant progress within the next six months.
Focus on Transparency and Accountability
NHA Chairman Sir Jimmie Rodgers — whose organisation oversaw Games infrastructure, logistics, and procurement — assured the Prime Minister that the National Hosting Authority is fully cooperating with auditors and that lessons learned will improve the governance of future national events.
Auditor General Dennis praised the Prime Minister’s active engagement:
“The Prime Minister recognises the importance of analysing how the Games were run. We will continue working together to resolve outstanding expenditure and procurement issues.”
International Oversight
KPMG Fiji, contracted by the Office of the Auditor General, brings external oversight to the process. The firm has audited major public sector entities in Solomon Islands before, establishing precedent for its role in large-scale national reviews.
Their joint audit with OAG is assessing:
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Financial statements of the National Hosting Authority
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Procurement processes for contracts, infrastructure development, and Games operations
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Governance and compliance with national financial regulations
Next Steps
The Solomon Islands Government has committed to supporting the final audit phase and ensuring that the complete report — including any findings and recommendations — is released to Parliament and made public.
As international attention continues to focus on governance and public financial management in the Pacific, the 2023 Pacific Games audit is seen as a major test of Solomon Islands’ transparency commitments, particularly with significant investments coming from development partners across the region.