By Ednal Palmer

PARLIAMENT adjourns to Wednesday this week to give time for the Public Accounts
Committee (PAC) and the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) to complete their
businesses.
When moving the adjournment motion this morning, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said
the adjournment is crucial to give ample time for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to
complete its hearings into the 2025 budget and finalize its report, as well as give time
for the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) to complete its hearing on the Constituent
Assembly Amendment Bill.
Contributing to the motion, Chairmen of the PAC and BLC Gordon Darcy Lilo and John
Maneniaru said they requested more time to complete their businesses because the
The government has not given them ample time.
Independent Leader and East Are’are Member of Parliament Junior Peter Kenilorea
cautioned the speaker of parliament and the executive to review the decision to allow an
amendment business, to an amendment that has not been implemented.
Hon Kenilorea was referring to a proposed amendment to the constitutional amendment that
resulted in the Constituent Assembly Act 2023, which was passed before the last parliament
was dissolved late last year.
“In support of the chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee on timing
I am aware that the draft Bill will be coming before the House, but upon reflection, if the
the speaker could consider, in terms of a constitutional amendment—amending something that
is still in the works might raise issues of frivolous conduct by Parliament—amending an
amendment that has not been fully implemented,” he said.
He added that this particular constitutional amendment was criticized when it was rushed
before the last sitting of the previous parliament.
“Some of us have reservations about this rush in the last parliament; now we will amend
it without allowing it space to be implemented. I want to leave it here regarding the process.
what we are trying to do here.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Shannel Agovaka, in support of the motion, said meeting the date
stipulated in the Amendment Act (Constituent Assembly 2023), which is December 31, is not
possible now.
“So this amendment is not a big deal because it is just the amendment of the date to cater
for the Constituent Assembly.”

The previous Parliament passed the Constitution (Amendment) (Constituent Assembly)
Bill 2023, on December 19, last year before the house dissolved.
The Opposition Leader then criticized the urgency to passing the bill, which he
described as ‘significant to the country’, saying the Bill was not afforded the time and
resources needed to engage fully in its process.
The Constituent Assembly Act 2023 is a significant legislative development as it
marks a critical step in the constitutional evolution of the country.
The primary objective of the Act is to introduce explicit provisions for the repeal of
the existing Constitution of 1978.
The Act outlines a comprehensive process for the repeal, detailing the establishment
of the Constituent Assembly, which forms the Coordinating Committee and various
theme committees, each assigned specific functions.
The Constituent Assembly is responsible for voting on the Draft Constitution, leading
to the final parliamentary vote.
The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly which includes MPs, Premiers, and HCC
The mayor and representatives of various stakeholders were scheduled for December 31
2024.