Building Solomon Islands’ Own Legacy of Research and Collaboration

Solomon Islands must build its own legacy of research and knowledge creation, rooted in local realities and guided by shared purpose, according to the Deputy Wing Leader of the Democratic Party, Hon. John Dean Kuku.

Speaking during the Panatina Research Seminar at Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Hon. Kuku said the nation must now move toward “locally driven research agendas, grounded in village life and relevant to the realities of our people.”

He highlighted that the Panatina Research Seminar, modelled after Papua New Guinea’s renowned Waigani Seminar, serves as a platform for regional intellectual leadership — informing policy, strengthening academic collaboration, and deepening public debate on national development challenges.

“Solomon Islands must build its own legacy in the same spirit — one that fosters rigorous thought, fearless dialogue, critical analysis, and uniquely Solomon Islands approaches to Pacific development challenges,” he said.

Drawing on local wisdom, Hon. Kuku reflected on the concept of tomoko — values that define unity and collective effort in the Western Province.

“In the Solomons, we not only talk about tomoko — we value and practice them. Every paddle on the canoe must pull in the same direction and with the same energy. That is what development should be — coordination, shared vision, and collective purpose.”

He said the Solomon Islands–Australia Education Partnership represents this spirit of unity and collaboration, describing it as “a bridge connecting minds, ideas, and shared purpose.”

“We are stronger when we work together — across institutions, across disciplines, and across borders,” Hon. Kuku said.

He concluded by reminding participants that the Solomon Islands stands at a critical juncture.

“We are at a crossroads as a nation. The choices we make in the next decade will define whether we build a Solomon Islands that is prosperous, fair, and resilient — or one that repeats the mistakes of the past and present.”

The Panatina Research Seminar brought together scholars, policymakers, and development partners to strengthen research culture and evidence-based policymaking in the Solomon Islands through collaboration with the Australian National University.