6 Oct 2010

Solomon Islands govt launches new policy framework document

11:22 am on 6 October 2010

Constitutional reforms and reforms to sector development have been outlined in the Solomon Islands government's new policy framework document.

The Prime Minister, Danny Philip, launched the document of his new Coalition for Reform and Advancement Government yesterday.

Mr Philip says the preamble to the constitution, which states that natural resources are vested in the people and the state, must be changed or those resources will remain largely untapped.

He says the Customary Land Institutionalisation Bill will ensure customary land holding groups register their land for the purpose of socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister says the document proposes to shift the economy away from its reliance on logging to develop tourism, agriculture, fisheries and minerals.

He says a political parties registration and administration bill and reforms to the electoral laws are proposed move the country towards a limited preferential voting system.