BY CAMPION OHASIO – DIGITAL CREATOR
For decades, the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) has relied on a single method to share news: issuing press releases from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to mainstream media like SIBC, Solomon Star, Island Sun, and local FM stations. While this old approach reaches the public, relying entirely on private media is no longer enough.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘆.
Relying solely on mainstream outlets creates serious gaps in public knowledge:
Firstly, there is only a short-term Focus: The public only hears the initial announcement or latest headline.
Second, is Missing Follow-ups: Important projects are rarely updated unless a media house takes the initiative to investigate. As a result, major stories often get buried until a scandal happens.
Third, is Unclear Impact: A key example is the current GREAT Coalition Policy Statement. While its launch made big headlines, many citizens still do not know how its ideas will affect their daily lives, how the plans will work, or what role they play in it.
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸
Announcing a policy in a single press release is not enough. To fix this, SIG must invest in its own dedicated information platform that links every line ministry directly to the PMO and out to the people. The current SIG web portal needs an immediate upgrade to ensure official information remains updated, clear, and accessible in one central place.
Government media officers must actively break down complex policies—like the GREAT Coalition Policy—into small, easy-to-understand information packages for everyday citizens. It is the responsibility of the government to make sure people fully understand public plans and progress.
If the government does not take control of its own story and explain its work clearly, social media will fill the silence with rumors, leading to confusion and chaos. The time to modernize government communication is now.
