Solomon Islands Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) will reintroduce the Constitutional Amendment Constituent Assembly Sitting Bill in Parliament.
The bill, in its previous form, seeks to amend the provision on the date for the convening of the Constituent Assembly from 31st December 2024 to 31st December 2026.
It was not passed in parliament last year after failing to secure the majority votes required to make a constitutional amendment.
Speaking to the local media on Monday, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele called on all members of parliament to support the bill once it is brought to parliament.
“My government will bring the Constitutional Amendment Bill back to Parliament again, and I ask the MPs in the Opposition and Independent Group to support this Constitutional Amendment.”
He said the Government is reviewing the Bill’s Annexation Committee Report and the Constitution Amendment Constituent Assembly Sitting Bill 2024, No.5 of 2024, before finalising the Bill to be tabled in Parliament in 2025.
He said that the government is committed to addressing the issue of the state system through the Constituent Assembly process.
“GNUT is committed to addressing this through the Constituent Assembly process.”
He said that at the last sitting of Parliament in December last year, the GNUT tabled the Constitution Amendment Constituent Assembly Act 2023 to allow the work of the Constituent Assembly to continue into 2025 and beyond.
“Unfortunately, members of the Opposition opposed the amendment, even after the government had agreed to their proposed amendments to the bill.
“It was very sad to see MPs from provinces that strongly advocated for a state government system boycotting Parliament to defeat the passage of this bill,” Manele said.
He claimed the absence of members of Parliament during the second reading resulted in the bill being defeated on the floor of Parliament.
Despite this, the government called for and convened a meeting of the Constituent Assembly, CA, on 30 December 2024, which was attended by all premiers and government MPs and the leader of the Opposition.
In the Constituent Amendment Act 2023, the Constituent Assembly comprises 80 members: 50 members of parliament, 10 members representing provincial premiers and the mayor of the Honiara City Council, 10 officials representing the provincial government and Honiara City Council, and 10 representing the churches, private sector, youth, civil society organisations, women’s organisations, and trade unions.
Meanwhile, the review of the current Provincial Government Act is anticipated to see drastic changes that will include the enhance devolution of powers and revenue sharing modalities that accord provincial government more power and authority.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele revealed to journalists this week that the Provincial Government Act (PGA) is being reviewed and it will be brought to the parliament before the end of the year.
Manele made it clear that these proposed changes could be implemented earlier – as a precursor to the State Government System.
He confirmed that the review of the Provincial Government Act will also include the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).
Manele further added that while GNUT is progressing the work of the Constituency Assembly or federalism and state government— it is also currently undertaking a review of the PGA with the view to increasing the delegation of powers that will offer provinces similar levels authority or autonomy anticipated in the state government.
He said that could be implemented earlier as a possible precursor to the State Government System.
“The anticipated changes would include the enhance devolution of powers and revenue sharing modalities that accord provincial government more power and authority. It is the intension of my government to complete and table this amendment bill in 2025,” said the prime minister.
On the PCDF, Manele said the PCDF modality has worked well in the last 16 years as it has enabled provincial governments to implement 1663 economic, social and infrastructure projects.
The PM said the PCDF has strengthened the capacity of the provinces, however, with the evolving (national context), the PCDF needs to be refreshed and focus on supporting development needs at the provincial level. “From this end, I am aware that the PCDF was recently reviewed and the report will be finalized soon,” he said.
