A high-level delegation from the Solomon Islands Correctional Service (CSSI) is in Vanuatu this week, reinforcing a regional partnership under a Twinning Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the justice ministries of both nations. The visit aims to promote knowledge sharing, improve operations, and strengthen the correctional services in both countries.

Director of Vanuatu Correctional Services, Johnny Marango, welcomed the delegation, which includes the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and Executive Team from CSSI, as well as Australian correctional partners.

“We are very fortunate to have a visit from the Solomon Islands Correctional Services. Here with us are their Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and executive team, including those supported by Australia. The purpose of their visit comes from a Twinning MOU signed between our Ministry of Justice and that of the Solomon Islands,” Marango said.

“This visit allows us to learn from each other. We both have strengths that the other can benefit from. We are here to exchange ideas and information to help improve our departments. We will also sign an MOU to work more closely together,” he added.

Marango also informed prisoners of upcoming changes to their facility due to safety concerns from recent aftershocks.

“By the end of this month, we will move to the Colardeau facility because of demolition work being carried out for our safety after ongoing aftershocks. The New Zealand government has confirmed funding to support this move. For our safety, we need to relocate,” he said.

CSSI Commissioner Mactus Forau expressed heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome and emphasized the importance of regional collaboration.

“Thank you everyone for your kind smiles — they made me happy. We are here to work together to improve our correctional systems. Collaboration between our correctional services and with other regional countries like Fiji, PNG, Samoa, and Tonga is important. This is part of a resolution from our Pacific Island Forum leaders — that we must come together and strengthen our operations,” he said.

Forau noted that the Solomon Islands only introduced parole in 2014 and are now exploring community-based rehabilitation inspired by Vanuatu.

“Yesterday we saw two of your inmates doing community work — something we haven’t yet introduced in the Solomons. We’ve come here to learn how to start that,” he said.

He spoke passionately about the true purpose of correctional services — not just punishment, but rehabilitation and transformation.

“No one is perfect — only Jesus is. We all make mistakes, and sometimes that leads us into the correctional system. But this system must help us change, so when we are released, we become better citizens. We return to our families, our communities, and contribute to our nation’s economy.”

“Our leaders believe we must work together as one Pacific family. At a dinner hosted by Director Marango, we agreed that we must stand united. As the saying goes, together we stand, divided we fall. You can’t cook a pot of rice with just one stick of firewood — you need many. That’s why we must share our resources, our knowledge, and experience to improve our systems.”

He concluded with a spiritual message of peace and transformation.

“The goal is to change lives. If we succeed, our communities and our countries will benefit. And the whole world will move closer to peace. I believe in the peaceful way Jesus taught us — and at the end of it all, we shall make it to heaven in Jesus’ name.”

This visit underscores a growing trend in the Pacific for regional institutions to collaborate across justice, policy, and governance to build safer, stronger, and more resilient nations.