Five staff of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands are now in the United States to participate in a prestigious professional exchange programme funded by the U.S. Congress, aimed at strengthening parliamentary leadership and governance.
The delegation is taking part in the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) Open World Program, a 10-day exchange that provides participants with first-hand experience of the United States legislative system and opportunities to engage with congressional officials, government institutions and community leaders.
They departed Solomon Islands on 19 July and have begun the first phase of the programme in Washington, D.C., where they are attending orientation sessions and professional meetings with staff of the U.S. Congress and other legislative institutions.
The participants are:
Boniface Supa – Acting Deputy Clerk
Lloyd Bera – Director of Finance
Ignatius Talifilu – Director of Hansard
Alice Baiabe – Deputy Director of Human Resource Management
Brian Palusi – Serjeant-at-Arms
The delegates were selected through a competitive application process coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Honiara, the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, and the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL).
COIL Program Officer Roksana Gabidullina congratulated the successful applicants and thanked the National Parliament for its continued partnership.
“We greatly value our partnership with the National Parliament of Solomon Islands and are grateful for your assistance in identifying such a strong pool of candidates,” Gabidullina said.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration and exploring future opportunities to work together in support of professional exchange and parliamentary engagement,” she added.
The Open World Program is the largest legislative exchange initiative funded by the U.S. Congress.
It brings emerging leaders from more than 20 countries to the United States each year to promote mutual understanding, strengthen democratic institutions and encourage the exchange of professional knowledge and best practices.
During their visit, the Solomon Islands delegation will study the operations of the U.S. Congress, parliamentary administration and governance systems before travelling to a host community where they will meet state and local government officials, civil society organisations and community leaders.
A unique feature of the programme is the homestay experience, which allows delegates to live with American families, providing an opportunity to experience everyday life in the United States while building lasting personal and professional relationships.
The National Parliament said participation in the programme is expected to strengthen the professional capacity of its staff, enhance institutional knowledge and deepen parliamentary cooperation between Solomon Islands and the United States.
