From Transparency Solomon Islands

In the aftermath of a second round of resounding support for your leadership Transparency Solomon Islands is calling on you to action against GRASSHOPPING.  

The continued grasshopping of Members of Parliament has resulted in Prime Ministers be it you or those in the past wasting a lot of precious time, energy and resources, navigating the unhelpful and unhealthy political landscape of our country.  

These are time and energy and navigational skills that should have been spent on serving the needs of the people of this country. 

Whilst there are many things for you to deal with the most important of these are reforms to deal with GRASSHOPPING and other issues that undermine the development of a healthy political party system in our country and CORRUPTION that denies people the services they deserve to live a decent life.

With regard to political instability, Transparency Solomon Islands urges the Prime Minister and his new government to include the proposed POLITICAL PARTIES INTEGRITY ACT 2014 amendment in its Legislative Programme to deal with issues observed in 2014, 2019 and 2024 National General Election. 

Under Prime Minister Sogavare when he was elected the Prime Minister his fundamental reform legislative program listed the review, reform and amendment of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014.  

This did not happen both times when he was the Prime Minister.  

This amendment is demanded by the people of this country through extensive nation-wide consultation.  

This work has been done but has yet to go through the processes to the Parliament.  Very importantly Transparency Solomon Islands reminds the Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele that the areas that need to be addressed or included in the amendment from 2014 and 2019 National General Election are:

1. Independent Group in Parliament 
2. Independent MPs joining and resigning from Political Parties and MP’s switching Parties after NGE.
3. Party Registration Black Out Period
4. Candidates contesting the National General Elections (NGE) as independent Candidates.
5. Party MPs moving freely from political party to political party and anti-defection measures 
6. Legislating Government and Opposition Caucus
7. Governor-General, appointment of the Prime Minister and Government 
8. Motions of No Confidence
9. Nominating one candidate per constituency

Issues arising from the 2024 National General Election are:

1. Disputes between the party and their MPS
2. Party Regulation – Minimum Standards for registration of parties
3. Party Funding
4. Recalling an MP
5. Political Party Advisory Board
6. Consultation with the Electoral Commission
7. Terms for Commissioners

With regard to Independent Group in Parliament, TSI notes that Section 66 (2) of the Constitution provides for the Leader of the Independent Members. 

This section makes reference to “independent group”. 

It is not clear whether an independent group can also mean a political party that is not a party to a government coalition or opposition coalition agreement as provided for under Sections 53, 54 and Schedule 2 of the PPIA.

This provision in the constitution is counterproductive to developing the political party system and has outlived its usefulness. 

Per our TSI’s previous articles on this group now led by the leader of a political party nothing more than a third group in parliament.   

These, if not dealt with will hold the balance of power and can influence whether the government of the day stays in power or not in an event of a no-confidence motion. 

Not only that but being a political party now heading the Independent Group, their party receives payment for each of their members and public fund covers the cost of their administration (double dipping). 

Section 50 of the PPIA recognises the right of an independent MP to renounce his or her status as an independent and join a political party. 

With the support given to you by mostly first, and second time Members of Parliament and the public, now is the time for you to act precisely to put a stop to the Political Wrangling for the wrong reasons, and put our country. 

If you are serious about serving the people of this country and not wasting time on navigating political GRASSHOPPING, amend the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014. 

Transparency Solomon Islands commends the work done by the Political Parties Commission.  

Issues identified by the Political Parties Commission, are the voices of your voters searching for political stability, political leadership integrity, and being the voices of those whose power you exercise and represented – the citizens of Solomon Islands.

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