23 Oct 2017

Solomon PM's anti-corruption bill heads back to parliament

5:51 pm on 23 October 2017

An anti-corruption bill is heading back to the Solomon Islands parliament this week after it was controversially withdrawn earlier this year.

Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare at the UN General Assembly, 2017.

Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare at the UN General Assembly, 2017. Photo: UNGA

The prime minister Manasseh Sogavare received widespread criticism for withdrawing the bill in August.

The Solomon Business Magazine reported Mr Sogavare had confirmed a revised bill was being printed and would be brought back for scrutiny by the Bills and Legislation Committee.

The proposed legislation provides the framework for an independent commission against corruption in the country.

Mr Sogavare said in August it was being withdrawn to incorporate committee recommendations but opposition members claimed he did not have enough support for the legislation.

Civil society groups in the country organised a protest rally and presented a petition to the government in September urging for the return of the bill.

At the time the organisers said they would closely scrutinise the reviewed legislation to ensure it had not been watered down to make it more palatable for government MPs.

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