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FIVE BILLS PASSED IN THIRD PART OF THE 4TH MEETING

MONDAY 29TH APRIL 2013

Five Bills were passed in this third part of the 4th meeting of the 9th Parliament which resumed on the 25th of March 2013 and is on a special adjournment to the 25th of July 2013.

The Constituency Development Fund Bill 2013, the Police Bill 2013, Biosecurity Bill 2013, National Parliament Electoral Provisions ( Amendment) Bill 2013, the 2012 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2013 and the Prime Minister’s (Pensions and Benefits) Bill 2013 were the Bills that came before the House.
However, Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo who was the mover of the Prime Minister’s (Pensions and Benefits) Bill 2013 Bill withdrew it on the basis that there is need for wider consultation.

Two petitions were also brought before the House and were debated.
A petition to oust the passage of the CDF Bill was presented by the Member of Parliament for Aoke/ Langalanga, Hon. Matthew Wale.
Hon. Matthew said he received the petition from civil society groups such as the Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) and Transparency Solomon Islands for and on behalf of the citizens of Solomon Islands who think there should be more time given for consultations on the Bill.
FSII is a Civil Society group that works towards Political system change for Solomon Islands.

However, the petition on the CDF Bill was not supported.
Another petition calling for the establishment of a Special Select Committee to inquire into short bus routes currently experienced in Honiara was also presented by the Member of Parliament for East Honiara; Hon. Douglas Ete.
The petition was spearheaded by the Young Women’s Parliamentary Group (YWPG) on behalf of the residents of Honiara City and was submitted to Hon. Ete who presented it to Parliament.
It has gained majority support from the Members and has been referred to a Special Select Committee.

Speaker of Parliament, Sir Allan Kemakeza has appointed the following Members of Parliament to be in the Special Select committee under Standing Order 73(3):
- Hon. John Moffat Fugui
- Hon. Dr Derek Sikua
- Hon. Johnley Hatimoana
- Hon. Namson Tran
- Hon. Doughlas Ete
- Hon. James Tora and
- Hon. Andrew Manepora

The members at their first meeting on the 26th of April 2013 elected Hon. John Moffat Fugui as Chairman according to Standing Order 73 (5).

BUS ROUTES PETITION REFERRED TO A SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE

THURSDAY 18TH APRIL 2013

ABOVE:A member of the Young Women's Parliamentary Group Albert Nori and youth representatives of Honiara hand over the signed petition forms

Parliament has referred the petition regarding short bus routes presented to it to a Special Select Committee after a request made under Standing Order 16 (6) was approved by the House on the 11th of April 2013.

The petition was spearheaded by the Young Women’s Parliamentary Group on behalf of the resident of Honiara City. It was submitted to the Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Hon. Douglas Ete who presented it to Parliament.
A total of 4,143 citizens from East, West and Central Honiara signed the petition.
The Young Women’s Parliamentary Group took the initiative of a petition to Parliament for and on behalf of Honiara citizens who are experiencing difficulty in coping with the current bus route arrangements made by local bus owners.
Hon. Ete during his presentation said the petition requests that the house must ensure that the Road Transport Board under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Honiara City Council and other relevant authorities ensure that the public transport industry is properly regulated.
He reiterate that the current issues that Honiara citizens face every day due to the short routes includes but not limited to:
- high cost of bus fare
- inconvenient commuting to work and school
- increased late arrival to work and school
- unregulated unapproved bus routes and
- unreliable public transport

There has been public outcry in the media over this public transport hiccup but there seems to be no clear response from responsible authorities, thus, YWPG feels it is time such pressing issues are taken directly to our leaders’ attention.

The Speaker of Parliament will appoint Members of the Special Select Committee. It is up to the Speaker of when he will make appointments. Such committee dissolves as soon as it has completed its enquiry and reports back to Parliament the issue or bill referred to it.

YWPG is a group established under the Leadership of the Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, Sir Allan Kemakeza and Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, the Chairman and members of the Parliamentary House Committee as patrons. It aimed at creating space for young women: to nurture and to train young women and male supporters to participate in leadership and influence government policies and laws.

PRIME MINISTER’S PENSION AND BENEFITS BILL 2013 WITHDRAWN

FRIDAY 12TH APRIL 2013

A Bill seeking to make provisions for the payment of pensions and other benefits to former Prime Ministers who cease or have ceased to hold office has been withdrawn.

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo who is also the mover of the Bill withdrew the Bill when he stood to windup debate on the second reading.

When withdrawing the Bill, the Prime Minister told Parliament that after his dialogue with Cabinet he agreed to withdraw the Bill as there is need for wider consultation.

The Pensions and Benefits Bill aimed at giving former Prime Ministers the same recognition as former Governor Generals.

The pension will be calculated at 80 percent of the annual salary of the current serving Prime Minister.

The current annual salary of the Prime Minister stands at $150,000.
The Bill also seeks that the pensions and benefits be transferable to the spouse upon the death of the pensioner.

A total of six Bills were brought to Parliament in this third part of the 4th meeting of this 9th Parliament. They are:

1. The Constituency Development Fund Bill 2013
2. the Police Bill 2013
3. Biosecurity Bill 2013
4. National Parliament Electoral Provisions (Amendment) Bill 2013
5. the 2012 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2013 and the
6. Prime Minister’s (Pensions and Benefits) Bill 2013.

Out of these six, five Bills were debated and passed.

By Joy Angi Rikimae

FOUR BILLS TO COME BEFORE THE HOUSE – UNDER BLC EXAMINATION

WEDNESDAY 27TH MARCH 2013

The Parliamentary Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) have examined two Bills and are currently looking at the Biosecurity Bill 2013.

Coming up to be examined too is the National Parliament Electoral Provisions (Amendment) Bill 2013.
The Constituency Development Funds 2013 Bill (CDF), when it becomes law will provide for the purpose of developing, supervising and regulating the management and disbursement of constituency Development funds in a transparent and accountable manner.

As stated in the Bill, the object and responsibility of this Bill is to ensure that the management and disbursement of Constituency Development Funds is carried out with integrity and in a prudent manner with a view to safeguarding the interest of potential recipients of the funds.
According to the Bill, 50 Constituency Development Offices will be established for the management and administration of Constituency Development Funds and the funds will be allocated for development purposes to individuals, groups’ income generating projects or community projects.

The Police Bill which was also examined is a Bill to provide for the organisation, discipline, powers and duties of the police force, is to repeal the Police Act (cap. 110) and for connected or incidental matters.
The Bill which has 10 parts includes the following:

1. Governance of the Police Force and it’s administration
2. Employment
3. Powers and Duties
4. Conduct and Discipline
5. Fire and Rescue Service
6. Police Maritime Division
7. External Relationships
8. Offences and the
9. Miscellaneous such as the police band, political activity, secondary employment, trade Union activity, Police Officer’s association, lost property, police fund, administration of police fund and protection for officers acting in good faith.

This Bill when becomes an Act shall come into force on such date as the Minister may appoint by notice in the gazette.
The Biosecurity Bill 2013 will be an Act to prevent the entry of animal and plant pests and diseases into Solomon Islands; to control their establishment and spread in Solomon Islands; to regulate the movement of animal and plant pests and diseases and of animals and plants and their products; to facilitate international co-operation in respect of animal and plant diseases and related matters.

The Bill is currently under the examination of the Committee.
Another Bill to be examined and is also set down for this sitting is the National Parliament Electoral Provisions (Amendment) Bill 2013.
The Principal object of this Bill is to enable the Electoral Commission to incorporate as soon as practicable the use of biometric technology in the process of registering voters.

This means the possible capturing of finger prints of voters as well as photographs of the face area in addition to obtaining the usual data such as names and addresses which had been captured in the past.
This Bill is believed to significantly enhance the integrity of the list of Electors and will go a long way towards improving future parliamentary elections in the Solomon Islands.
The second two Bills are expected to be set down for second reading next week.
By Joy Angi Rikimae
Parliament Media Unit

NEW MP FOR NGELLA CONSTITUENCY TAKES OATH

WEDNESDAY 27TH MARCH 2013

ABOVE:New MP for Ngella Constituency, Hon. Johnley Hatimoana signs after making his oath on Monday the 25th of March 2013 in Parliament..

Newly elected MP for the Ngella Constituency took his oath before the House on Monday the 25th of March 2013, the third session of the fourth meeting of the 9th Parliament.

According to section 63 of the Constitution no Member of Parliament is permitted to take part in the proceedings of Parliament until they have made before Parliament an oath of allegiance.

Taking that oath would mean that the newly elected MP, Johnley Tekiou Hatimoana is now permitted to take part in the proceedings of Parliament.
Speaker of Parliament, Sir Allan Kemakeza who presided over the meeting welcomed Hon. Johnley and reminded him of the responsibilities ahead of him.
“On behalf of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands I welcome you as the newly elected Member of Parliament for Ngella constituency.

Sir Allan further said; “having taken your oath you are now permitted to participate in the proceedings of this Honourable House. I wish you well as you commence your duty as a Member of Parliament of this House for Ngella Constituency.”

He made his first speech on the debate of the Constituency Development Funds Bill on the second day of sitting.
The Ngella constituency went to the polls to elect their Member of Parliament through a by-election on the 27th of February of 2013.

By Joy Angi Rikimae
Parliament Media Unit

PARLIAMENT RESUMES MONDAY 25TH MARCH 2013

MONDAY 25TH MARCH 2013

The 4th meeting of the 9th Parliament which adjourned on the 20th December 2012 will resume today.

The main business of the third part of this 4th meeting is to debate and pass a number of Bills by the government.

Two Bills had come for scrutiny before the Bills and Legislation Committee over the past two weeks. They are the Constituency Development Funds Bill 2013 and the Police Bill 2013.

The Constituency Development Funds Bill 2013 when it becomes an Act is to provide for the purpose of developing, supervising and regulating the management and disbursement of Constituency Development Funds in a transparent and accountable manner.

The Police Bill 2013 when it becomes an Act is to provide for the organisation, discipline, powers and duties of the police force, to repeal the police Act (cap. 110) and for connected or incidental matters.
These two Bills are expected to come before the House on this first sitting day for their first reading.

Another Bill yet to be examined by the Bills and Legislation Committee but is also expected to come before the house is the Biosecurity Bill 2013.
The Biosecurity Bill 2013 when it becomes an Act is to prevent the entry of animal and plant pests and diseases into Solomon Islands; to control their establishment and spread in Solomon Islands; to regulate the movement of animal and plant pests and diseases and of animals and plants and their products; to facilitate international co-operation in respect of animal and plant diseases and related matters.

Reports and recommendations from the Bills and Legislation Committee on the two bills will also be presented in Parliament.

PETITION ON SHORT BUS ROUTES HEADS TO PARLIAMENT

MONDAY 25TH MARCH 2013
Two Honiara Members of Parliament have agreed to take the issue of Short Bus routes to Parliament in this coming sitting on the 25th of March 2013.

The Young Women’s Parliamentary Group (YWPG) met with the Member for East Honiara and West Honiara to raise the issue of petitioning Parliament about the current practice of shorter bus routes.

Both MP agree that this is a pressing issue that affects their constituents.
They met with the two MPs this week.
Hon. Tran who met with the young women at Prime Minister’s Office agreed to take this issue up with caucus.

YWPG will, however, collect signatures from individuals who think that this is an issue that needs to be brought before Parliament in the upcoming meeting.
The petition is presented on behalf of the citizens of the constituencies in Honiara, residents living within Honiara City council boundary, in East, Central and West Honiara suburbs. The YWPG calls on any individual, groups or organisation to assist them in collecting the signatures.
The current issues that Honiara citizens face every day due to the short routes includes but not limited to:

high cost of bus fare
inconvenient commuting to work and school
increase late arrival to work and school
unregulated unapproved bus routes and
unreliable public transport
There has been public outcry in the media over this public transport hiccup but there seems to be no clear response from responsible authorities, thus, YWPG feels it is time such issues are taken directly to our Leaders attention.
The issue of short bus routes is at the forefront of the YWPG’s work plan for this year.

YWPG is a group established under the Leadership of the Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands as patron. It aims at creating space for young women to nurture and train young women and male counterparts to participate in leadership.