BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
A former Special Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office has issued a strong warning, saying that poorly designed laws are bound to fail.
Jeffrey Wickham made the statement in relation to the much-anticipated Mineral and Resource Bill, which has been widely criticized by resource owners and local leaders.
Many have labelled the bill a “ghost bill” due to the absence of proper consultations prior to its drafting.
In an interview with Island Sun, Jeffrey Wickham said, the process of making a law in Solomon Islands is meant to be a transparent and inclusive process involving several key stages of approval and consultation.
“First, the ministry must submit a document called a White Paper to the cabinet. Once approved, a team of legal experts will then draft the bill.
“The draft bill is submitted to the cabinet for approval and if endorsed, it must go through nationwide consultation.
“Public’s views gathered during the consultation are then incorporated into the bill before a revised version is sent back to cabinet. If the cabinet is satisfied, the bill will then proceed to the Bills and Legislation Committee for scrutiny and finally, it is debated in Parliament.
“This is the normal process.
However, there are times when urgent legislation may bypass certain stages. Even then, it is crucial that laws reflect the views of the people they are meant to govern,” he said.
Wickham said public participation in lawmaking is essential, as laws are created to guide behaviour and resolve disputes within a legal framework.
According to Wickham, the Mineral and Resource Bill is a classic example of a law that risks failure due to its top-down approach and lack of public involvement.
Island Sun understands that the bill has sparked concern among leaders and communities.
Among those who voiced strong opposition to the bill are Western Province Premier Billy Veo, former Premier Christian Barley Mesepitu and San Jorge Island landowner Wilson Tohidi from Isabel Province.
They all criticized the lack of transparency and called for greater involvement of resource owners in the legislative process.
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