MyBlog

Saturday, August 04, 2007

More challenges loom ahead

More challenges loom ahead
August is hardly a week old, and the politics of Solomon Islands moves into another time of self examination.

The politics of the country has been fluid as ever. Various stakeholders including the Parliamentary Opposition and Civil Society, have been critical of the certain government decisions. The culmination of those disagreements, is the planned motion of no confidence to be moved in the Prime Minister in the next sitting of Parliament scheduled to start next week.

August will also see local and overseas experts fine-tuning the Draft Federal Constitution. The majority of Provinces in the country have been waiting for this piece of legislation. How the people will use the new proposed law to improve themselves is another matter. But at least they will be given their wish.

The Makira-Ulawa Province has more ahead to further revive its traditions and culture. This month will also see the Provincial Government empowering its traditional leaders, the chiefs.

Motion of No Confidence
East Are'Are M-P Edward Huni'ehu says he intends to plant the seed of truth as he prepares to move the no confidence motion in Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Mr Huni'ehu says the no confidence motion is to let the people of Solomon Islands know where the country is heading under the leadership of Sogavare. He says the Prime Minister will have an opportunity to defend his government and the unpopular decisions they have made since taking office last year. Mr Huni'ehu says his motion is about issues and not character assassination because he believes the only way to resolve the leadership crisis is to remove Prime Minister Sogavare.

Federal System of Government
The Prime Minister Sogavare has made a progress report on the Federal System of Government.

He revealed this on Thursday, August 2nd during Guadalcanal Province's 2nd appointed Day.
Mr Sogavare said local experts and overseas constitutional experts are scrutinising the Draft Federal Constitution. He said the recently announced Constitutional Congress is part of this process. The Congress will be summoned to Honiara in late August for their first Congress meeting for briefing and induction.

The Congress will look into the draft legislation and later submit it to a Convention of representatives of Solomon Islands political community. It is the intention of the government that the community must be given reasonable opportunity to be informed of the draft and comment on it before invited to indicate its support.

With all these done, the government will ensure that the Draft Federal Constitution is submitted to Cabinet in October 2008. The Cabinet will deliberate on the draft legislation and later table it in Parliament for consideration and debate. Prime Minister Sogavare said that Parliament at this final stage will merely endorse what has been agreed to by the Convention.

Makira-Ulawa empowers chiefs
The Makira-Ulawa provincial government is leading the way in taking moves to empower its traditional leaders.

The Province has decided to commemorate its second appointed day on August 17th to coincide with the Province's "Chiefs Empowerment Day". Provincial Deputy Premier Gad Hagasuramo says the Chiefs Empowerment Ordinance was one of the legislation passed and was ascended by the Minister for Provincial Government.

He says under this ordinance, chiefs in the villages will be given powers to deal with community activities and will play important roles in the governance of their communities and the rule of law.Mr Hagasuramo says during the "Makira Chiefs Empowerment Day", more than 100 chiefs from the 21 wards of the province will be in Kirakira to mark the occasion.

MyBlog comments
Motion of No confidence

Public view on the motion has been divided, with certain groups opposing it. The Opposition however, seems to have the support of the Civil Society which represents a wide range of NGOs and community groups. Despite this assumed support, only the MPs will decide the fate of the PM.

Federal System of Government
MyBlog believes Prime Minister Sogavare has scored a point in reporting on the progress of the Draft Federal Constitution.

This is what the majority of Solomon Islanders want to hear. The people want the Federal System of government now, the quicker the better. MyBlog feels that if the people want a change of government system, then let them have it. That is the wish of the people.

The notion for such change in governance system is that, by giving the people more power and autonomy they will be able look after themselves. The new system would provide an avenue for the States to make their own laws. There is a risk in venturing into the unknown, but it is a risk worth trying. MyBlog's view is that a change for the better can only happen with a positive change within an individual.

Makira-Ulawa empowers chiefs
MyBlog can only salute the move that theMakira-Ulawa Provincial Government has taken to empower its chiefs.

The province is going going back in time, to revive the roles of its traditional leaders, the chiefs. MyBlog assumes that in the past tribal chiefs were only responsible for their tribes or communities. However, in a time when the communities and tribes are becomeing more closer, coming together to find common grounds and rules to govern their people is a welcome move.

But for the chiefs to fulfil their roles, their people and those who are guests in the province must abide by their rules. Through this move the leaders of Makira-Ulawa Province are taking governance down to the community.

Good luck everyone