The National Parliament needs to establish stronger connection with our communities as this is an avenue through which Members of Parliament can promote a greater understanding of Parliament’s roles and responsibilities.

This was the message relayed to Members of Parliament by the Deputy Speaker of National Parliament, Hon. Clement Kengava, in the opening of Parliamentary Committee workshop at the Parliament House this morning.

Speaking during the opening Hon. Kengava said that engaging communities will enable members to be better informed about community views, to establish a strong link between local communities and Parliament as this is vital to building trust between communities and Parliamentarians.

“Our National Parliament has a committee system that enables Members of Parliament to examine issues in more detail than is possible in the House. Committees are a way in which the Parliament can look into issues that Parliament would not have had time to look into during Parliament sittings, therefore they play an important part in making sure that Parliament works effectively.”

 “The works of Committees provide an opportunity for individuals and groups to put their views directly to Parliamentarians strengthening the aim of ‘taking parliament to the people’. This can be done through making submissions, giving oral evidence, attending public hearings and obtaining copies of report. However, this is an important role of committees that is yet to be fully appreciated here in our Parliament,” Hon. Kengava said.

The Role of Parliamentary Committees training workshop was opened this morning with speeches from the Deputy Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition.

The workshop is organized by the Centre for Democratic Institutions (CDI) in conjunction with National Parliament of Solomon Islands and UNDP’s Solomon Islands Parliamentary Strengthening Project.

The workshop will conclude tomorrow, Thursday 17 April 2008.

ENDS//

For more information please contact Parliamentary Secretariat on ph: 23424/ 23461, fax 23080/ 24272

[Click to View or Download Speeches]

[View Workshop Program]

The National Parliament of Solomon Islands has today voted on the “2008 Appropriation Bill 2008”. The Bill was passed after it was brought before the Parliament Public Accounts Committee for scrutiny last month and has gone through first and second readings,the committee of supply and third reading in parliament.

Parliament debated the Bill in detail for 3 days following the Minster of Finance's 2008 budget speech and an additional 4 days in the Committee of Supply before voting on it.

The Appropriation Bill includes the development and recurrent budget estimates for 2008. The development budget mainly comprises consolidated and unappropriated (donor) funds and is jointly financed mainly by Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and donor partners. The re-current budget covers all projects and operational costs incurred by the SIG in its delivery of services to the people of Solomon Islands.

The total re-current expenditure estimate for 2008 is SBD$1,444,323,390 while the development estimates is SBD$380,494,592.

Parliament will adjourn on Friday 11 April 2008 to meet again in the middle of the year for a number of pieces of legislation as well as the suplementary appropriation.