Wednesday 1 July 2009

On Friday 26 June 2009, Parliament debated and passed a private member’s motion calling on the government to address land management and administration issues in Honiara. The motion moved by Leader of the Official Independent Group, Hon Isaac Inoke Tosika, Member for West Honiara, sought to direct the government to urgently act to address the crisis in the management and administration of land in Honiara, including:

1. Ensuring the Ministry of Lands provides an equitable, transparent, effective and corruption resistant system of land management that addresses;
   • the shortage of available land;
   • the inappropriate allocation of land;
   • the ineffective systems of registration, management and revenue collection;
   • the issues causing conflict and disharmony in communities in Honiara and throughout Guadalcanal province.
2. Ensuring that the systems in place respect the rights and needs of Solomon Islanders;
3. Providing resources and technical assistance to the Ministry of Lands to address land management issues such as:
   • the need to acquire and subdivide undeveloped Fixed Term Estates such as those in Tandai, West Honiara, and where appropriate make them available to citizens who have had long term residency on those lands;
   • the need to expeditiously process all outstanding applications by current Temporary Occupation License holders for Fixed Term Estates within Solomon Islands;
   • the lack of appropriate town planning resulting in the unlawful development and use of easements and water and electricity utilities;
   • the introduction of independent and impartial tender processes within the Ministry.

At the outset Hon. Tosika praised the CNURA government for establishing sets of principles that directed the action plans of the government in addressing loopholes within the current land management and administrative system. In addressing the motion, Hon. Tosika stressed that improper land management and administration had long existed and is still an outstanding issue in the capital. According to Hon. Tosika, flaws in the land tender allocation process has led to improper distribution of land in the Solomon Islands. He said "it is obvious that this was the era which shows the allocation mass piece of land to individual companies’ even foreigners…we now see mass piece of undeveloped land in various areas in Honiara and the process of registration has become more of a process of securing land rather than a prerequisite for development" . Hon. Tosika pointed out that significant pieces of land were left undeveloped, whilst many locals struggle to find land to live on.

In a more representative capacity, as the voice of the "grassroots", Hon. Tosika said that the motion was also to address squatter settlements in the Tandai area (within the West Honiara constituency) where people who had settled on government land under temporary occupancy leases were evicted after the land was then allocated to foreign companies. He expressed concern over the unfair allocation of prime sites to people who have many other properties, while those who have settled on these lands have very little options.

"There are a lot of people using Solomon Islands as their harvesting cornfield" he said. His recommendation was for the government to consider reacquisition of undeveloped land and to subdivide and tender to locals for residential development purposes.

In response to the motion, the Minister of Lands & Survey, Hon. Samuel Manetoali, MP thanked the mover of the motion. The Minister said "the enormity of this chronic problem its breadth and depth will require a total overhaul of the legislation, the processes and systems that are currently inexistence, a task that will take time, commitment and political will … the government and administration through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, whilst it may not have the time to complete this work to a level where it can be sustainable, I can assure this House that it has the commitment and the political will to tackle the problem head on and has began the work".

The Minister indicated that the government was working on a parallel program to re-professionalize and re-establish the integrity and reputation of the administration and management in the Ministry that would enable sustainable service delivery and implement priority programs.

Members of Parliament both in government and the Opposition applauded the motion and praised the initiative by Hon. Tosika, supporting its recommendations. Land issues in the Solomon Islands, particularly in Honiara, Guadalcanal has been an ongoing problem that has been identified to be a primary cause of the ethnic conflict between 1998 and 2003.

[Full response of the Minister of Lands]

Friday 26 June 2009

The Parliamentary Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) held its first public hearing relating to a bill introduced into Parliament in the current meeting. The hearing commenced at 2pm on Thursday 18 June 2009 and inquired into the Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2009.

The following witnesses were invited and appeared before the committee

• Mr Rupeni Nawaqakuta ,the Legal Draftsman from Attorney General Chambers
• Mr Henry Pika, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Police National Security and Correctional Services
• Mr John Ta’aru, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Infrastructure and Development
• Inspector Maxwell Saelea, Director of Traffic
• Mr Wayne Hart, Clerk to Honiara City Council
• Mr Casper Chite, Licensing Officer in the Ministry of Finance and Treasury
• Mr Paul Amao of the Chamber of Commerce

The witnesses were considered by the committee to be key stakeholders in the administration of traffic in the Solomon Islands.

The principal objectives of the Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2009 are:

“the Bill seeks to amend the Traffic Act for the purpose of ensuring that the functions and powers under that Act are well coordinated, administered and enforced to ensure safety on our roads. The amendment will allow for proper administration and better enforcement of our traffic laws, which will include on-the-spot fines, appointment of enforcement officers and undertaking of prosecutions in the Magistrates’ Courts by officers of the Board for minor offences”.

Following consideration of all the evidence put before the Committee the Committee recommended that:

The committee tabled its report on Monday 22 June 2009 and it was immediately made available to members for their information prior to the second reading debate on the bill. The report can be accessed on the parliament’s website on www.parliament .gov.sb. The what’s new segment of the home page of the website will immediately take you to the report.

19 June 2008

The Attorney-Generals Chambers has advised the Clerk to Parliament, Mrs. Taeasi Sanga that the government plans to table at least fourteen Bills in the present meeting of Parliament. In the usual deliberative meeting between the National Parliament Office and the Attorney-General’s Chambers at the start of every Parliament meeting, the extensive legislative program was discussed. One of the challenges discussed was developing a well planned and coordinated tabling of the Bills that would allow the Bills and Legislation Committee to review each Bills appropriately, conduct public hearings with stakeholders and inform the public adequately of proposed new legislation and proposed changes to the legislation. The Committee will then prepare its report to Parliament before the Bill goes into the Second Reading.

The Bills and Legislation Committee is the Standing Select Committee responsible for scrutinizing all bills and legislation presented to Parliament. Whilst the Committee plays a significant oversight role in parliamentary process, the Standing Orders do not require the government to give notice for any Bills, which often means that Bills can be ‘steamrolled’ through Parliament and bypass proper scrutiny by the Committee. The discussion with the Attorney General, Mr. Gabriel Suri and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, are designed to avoid this and their interest in addressing the issues raised is the appreciated by the Committee.

In the present parliamentary meetings the Bills that will go before Parliament include:

• Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2009 (No.10)
• Constitution (Amendment)(No.2) Bill 2009 (No.11)
• Evidence Bill 2009 (No. 12 of 2009)
• Counter-terrorism Bill 2009 (No. 13 of 2009)
• Foreign Investment (Amendment and Validation) Bill 2009 (No. 14 of 2009)
• Penalties Miscellaneous Amendments Bill 2009 (No. 15 of 2009)
• Political Parties Bill 2009
• Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2009
• Money-laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2009
• Currency Declaration Bill 2009
• National Parliament (Electoral Provisions) Bill 2009
• Telecommunications Bill 2009
• Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2009

On Monday 17 June 2009 the Committee held a deliberative meeting to map out how it will conduct the public hearings on the Traffic (Amendment) Bill, Evidence Bill and the Counter-terrorism Bill. The Committee intends to conduct hearings on the Traffic (Amendment) Bill on Thursday 18 June 2009 in time for debate next week Tuesday 23 June 2009, while hearings on the latter two will commence next week.

The Solomon Islands National Parliament elected a new Governor-General on Monday 15 June 2009. Retired Judge and current Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Mr. Frank Ofagioro Kabui was elected Governor-General designate of the country after four rounds of voting that lasted more than 3 hours. The other candidates for the highest position in the land were incumbent Governor-General Sir Nathaniel Waena, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Kenilorea, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Mr. Edmund Andresen, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Provincial Government, Mr. John Tuhaika, Former Parliamentarians, Mr. John Maetia Kaliuae and Mr. Joses Tuhanuku, Former Lord Mayor of Honiara City, Mr. Alfred Maetia and Former Secretary to the Solomon Islands Christian Association, Rev. Philemon Riti.

Nominations for the position opened on Thursday 11 and closed at 4pm on Sunday 14 June 2009. The elections went through 3 rounds of voting without any one candidate receiving the required absolute majority. Under the rules, elections continue until an absolute majority is reached. In the fourth and final round Mr. Kabui was declared Governor-General designate after he received 30 votes, giving him an absolute majority of the 46 votes cast.

In an interview with the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Kabui said that he was honoured that Members of Parliament had confidence in him. He acknowledged the challenges that came with the position but added that as long as he remained within the constitutional bounds of the office, he would do well. The Governor General is the de facto Head of State representing Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor General is appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of Parliament to a five year term. This is in contrast to many Commonwealth countries where the Queen’s representative is appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister and the cabinet.

Frank Kabui, 63 is from Manakwai Village, Malu’u in North Malaita. He graduated with a law degree from Papua New Guinea in 1975 and became the first local Solomon Islander to be appointed Attorney General in 1980. He held the position for 14 years and was elected Chairman of the Law Reform Commission in 1994. In 1998 he was appointed High Court Judge and retired in April 2006 when he turned 60. In the same year he was appointed Chairman of the Law Reform Commission and has held the position until now. Kabui will assume office when Solomon Islands celebrated its 31st Independence anniversary on Tuesday 7th July 2009.

Table of results of the election of the Governor General at Parliament House

FRIDAY 8 MAY 2009

The National Parliament established the Special Select Committee into the Quality of Medical Services in the National Referral Hospital on 3 April 2009 on a motion moved by the Hon. Peter Boyers, MP for West New Georgia Vonanona. The eight-member Committee appointed by the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Kenilorea, included Hon. Peter Boyers, Hon. Laurie Chan, Hon. Isaac Inoke, Hon. Clay Forau, Hon. Walter Folotalu, Hon. Manasseh Maelanga, Hon. Siriako Usa and Hon. Patteson Oti, met for its first introductory meeting on Friday 1 May 2009. However on 5 May 2009 the Prime Minister appointed two of the members, Hon. Laurie Chan and Hon. Manasseh Maelanga to the executive which will require their replacement on the Committee due to their new responsibilities, and to avoid any conflict of interest with their Cabinet responsibilities.

At its first meeting, the Committee elected Hon. Peter Boyers as Chairman. In his opening statement, immediately after his appointment, Hon. Boyers expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the other Members of Parliament for their willingness to be part of the Committee and participate in the review. In moving the motion, Hon. Boyers reiterated the sentiments he expressed when moving the motion, that the creation of the Committee was intended to help raise the standard of health services in the Solomon Islands and assist the Ministry and the medical service address the problems faced by the hospital.

In his opening statement, the Chairman said that the Committee “was formed on the basis of conscience; and it is hoped that whatever comes out from this inquiry will result in a lasting and definite improvement to the Hospital’s service delivery and the capacity of the National Hospital to meet the challenges facing health services in the 21st century”. The Chair’s sentiments were supported by all Members of the Committee who also acknowledged the important responsibility entrusted to the Committee by Parliament.

The review of the quality of medical services at the National Referral Hospital is an important part of Parliament’s scrutiny role which assists in improving public policy and government service delivery through bringing to light any administrative and operational difficulties experienced by medical and nursing practitioners in the hospital, as well as other systemic problems. Reports from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services indicate that the administration is already preparing itself for the review. This review of the National Referral Hospital is the first sanctioned by Parliament, and one which Dr. Lester Ross will inherit as the new Permanent Secretary for the Ministry.

Due to the level of public interest in the review, the Chair and Members of the Committee emphasized that while it was important to obtain submissions from the public on their individual experiences and views related to the delivery of services at the National Referral Hospital, the purpose of the inquiry was not to investigate and adjudicate on individual complaints or conduct a ‘witch hunt’ but rather to review the quality of medical services at the hospital and resolve systemic problems.

The Committee is expected to formally advertise for written submissions from individuals and organizations in early May until the second week of July 2009 with public hearings planned to follow the next meeting of Parliament scheduled for June/July 2009. The Committee expects to receive submissions from various stakeholders including government administrators, medical and nursing practitioners, aid donors and development partners as well as church organizations, medical and legal experts and most importantly the public for whom the services are provided.

A copy of the Pijin Bible found a permanent home in the Solomon Islands National Parliament at a special dedication at Parliament House on Friday 20 March 2009. The open Bible is housed in a specially designed glass display case in the lobby of Parliament near the office of the Speaker of Parliament.

The display features a hand-carved canoe on which rested the actual copy of the Pijin Bible that was presented to the Prime Minister by Archbishop Sir Ellison Pogo on 7th July 2008, the 30th Anniversary of Independence. The canoe was carved for the occasion of the Pijin Bible launch and carried into Lawson Tama accompanied by singing and dancing by the Melanesian Brothers. Sitting at the rear of the glass-enclosed Solomon Islands Bible Display are copies of the Bibles and New Testaments, which have been translated into Solomon Island languages since Independence.

The House of Parliament was suspended for an hour specifically to cater for the dedication of the display. The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Honourable Sir Peter Kenilorea, welcomed all MPs to the dedication programme which was hosted by the Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group (SITAG). Translation of the Pijin Bible was overseen by SITAG at the request of the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA).

The translation of the Pijin Bible was begun around the time of Solomon Islands Independence. The Gospels were launched in 1988 on the 10th Anniversary of Independence and the entire New Testament in 1993 on the 15th Anniversary of Independence. The translation of the Pijin Bible was accomplished through many years of hard work of Solomon Islanders and expatriates under the leadership of the SICA. The Pijin Bible was launched on Sunday 6 July 2008 at St. Barnabas Cathedral. On Independence Day July 7 2008, a copy of the Bible was presented by the acting chairman of SICA Archbishop Sir Ellison Pogo to the Prime Minister who received it on behalf of the nation.

Speaking during the opening program, SITAG Director Mr. Greg Conwell acknowledged the support rendered by the SI Government and SICA for Bible translation in other SI languages. The continued strong support of churches and the government will be needed in order to finish the task of translating God’s Word into every language in the Solomon Islands.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Honourable Sir Peter Kenilorea, during his brief remarks acknowledged the need for of our national leaders to ensure that God’s word must be centre of all deliberations both in the House and outside. He also acknowledged the support of the current Government in declaring 2008 “Year of the Bible” and their sponsorship of various activities throughout the year in partnership with the Year of the Bible Working Group.

The Solomon Islands Bible Display highlights the publication of the entire Bible in Solomon Islands Pijin, a language spoken by the greatest majority of our people, and a language which identifies us and unifies us as Solomon Islanders. As also noted by the Speaker, Rt. Honourable Sir Peter Kenilorea, “the display of copies of the Bible or New Testament in our own languages reminds us of the importance of our local languages and the diverse, yet rich heritage we have. It is a picture of unity in the midst of diversity”.

The program was ended with a pledge put forward to MPs and invited guests by Speaker Rt. Honourable Sir Peter Kenilorea, “in recognition of the significance of the permanent display of the ceremonial canoe and a Pijin Bible in the lobby of the Parliament house as this is an important reminder to all who enter that God’s word and standard are the main principles by which our country’s leader to follow”.

Hanging on the wall above the Bible display are two picture frames. On the left is a photo of Archbishop Ellison Pogo presenting the Pijin Bible to the Prime Minister at Lawson Tama on 7 July 2008 and on the right is a congratulatory letter to Solomon Islands on the occasion of the launch of the Pijin Bible by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace, England.