Gov’t eyes 11 bills for parliament this year

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government has assured commitment to deliver 11 bills before parliament this year.

Prime Minister Hon Rick Hou made the statement during his first ever press conference with local media yesterday.

“At the moment let me assure Solomon Islands that we have committed to delivering on a number of important legislation this year.”

Hou explained they include, Anti-Corruption Bill 2017, Constitution (Amendment) (Electoral Reform) Bill 2018, Legal Profession Bill 2017 and Whistle Blower Bill 2017.

Adding, the Prescription of Ministers (Amendment) Bill 2017, Strata Titles Bill 2017, Constitution (Amendment) (Dual Citizenship) Bill 2017, Citizenship Bill 2017, Political Parties Integrity Amendment Bill 2018, Mineral Bill 2018 and Forestry Bill 2018.

He said that in fact five or six of these Bills are already in Parliament and they have scheduled them for the upcoming meeting in March.

Hou said they hope to do those bills with the budget in March.

He made it clear that if any bill that is unfinished, like the Political Parties Integrity Amendment Bill 2018, Mineral Bill 2018 and Forestry Bill 2018 that are still to work on them, they will ready before the budget session at the end of the year.

However, when local media asked on the status of the Anti-Corruption Bill he said his government made no changes on the bill.

Hou said they are looking at taking the revised one which was once brought before parliament last year.

He said the ACB will be among the first set of bills to go before parliament together with the budget in March this year.

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