WP’S NON-EXECUTIVE WELCOMES ‘CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY’

The passing of the Constitution (Amendment) (Constituent Assembly) Bill 2023 by the National Parliament of Solomon Islands on Tuesday, 19 December 2023 is welcomed by the Non- Executive Members of Western Provincial Assembly.

This is long overdue constitutional amendment in the making. It is road ahead for Federalism and Statehood in the country.

At last the desire for ‘maximum autonomy’ by the past and present leaders of Western Province and the voices for ‘statehood’ by our ordinary peoples are being heard by the National Legislature. With the passing of the constitutional amendment for Constituent Assembly, the Non-Executive Members call upon Solomon Islands Government to:

1. Immediately review the Provincial Government Act 1997 to operationalize Constituent
Assembly and Statehood in the country;

2. Immediately review the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) and
Provincial Capital Development Fund (PCDF) in the Ministry of Provincial Government
and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) to facilitate the operationalization of
Constituent Assembly and Statehood in the country; and

3. Immediately reform the assignment of responsibilities of the MPGIS to accommodate the functions of Constituent Assembly and Statehood in the country.

The Non-Executive looks forward in participating in the operationalization, enforcement and implementation of the Constitution (Amendment) (Constituent Assembly) Bill 2023.

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