Solomons PM urged to press on with anti-corruption bill
Civil society organisations in Solomon Islands are urging the prime minister to push on with legislation aimed at setting up the country's first Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Transcript
Civil society organisations in Solomon Islands are urging the prime minister to push on with legislation aimed at setting up the country's first Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Manasseh Sogavare suspended the passage of the 2016 Anti-Corruption Bill after its first reading two weeks ago, citing a reversal in the bi-partisan support for the bill.
But the executive officer for Transparency Solomon Islands Ruth Liloqula says the postponement suggest an internal struggle as government should not need the support of the opposition or the independents to pass the legislation.
She spoke with Koroi Hawkins about the stalled bill.
RUTH LILOQULA: So it has gone through the first reading but it was withdrawn from the government agenda. The government sets the agenda for the meetings of parliament or sessions so they did not list it they removed it from the list. So there is still an opportunity for them to put it back inside so that it can go through the second reading.
KOROI HAWKINS: So it is kind of in limbo at the moment then?
RL: Yes it is in limbo at the moment.
KH: And have there been any indications as to why?
RL: There have been a lot of reasons given I think the first one given was that the opposition and the independent groups did not support this bill but we have also heard on media and in public that both the official leader of the opposition and the leader of the independent group they support the bill. So I think at the same time they are saying that they don't have the numbers but in our view, that is Transparency Solomon Islands view that cannot be so basically because the government must have the numbers to govern therefore there is nothing to stop the Bill from being tabled the GCC [Grand Coalition For Change Government] has the numbers to pass the bill if the independent and the opposition are not supporting it they should still be able to pass it.
KH: Yes and this points to the speculations that there are actually divisions within government over the passing of the bill which is the reason that there has been a delay and even suggestions that if that is the case then the bill might never see the light of day?
RL: One doesn't need rocket science to work out that the government is probably within the government not with the other lot. We know for certain that there are members of the independent and opposition group that are not for it. But at the same time there are also some members of the government that are not for it. So in reality should the government be very serious they just need to champion this bill to ensure that it is passed. If it is not passed at least Solomon Islanders would know how their members of parliament have voted or have debated and they can make an informed decision about what they are going to do with the vote come 2018 which is only two years away. So which ever way it goes as far as Transparency Solomon Islands is concerned we call on the prime minister to champion the bill and do something right for this country and if it means the downfall of his tenure as prime minister I think he will be more respected for doing the right thing for the country.
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