Government to bring Constitutional Amendment Constituent Assembly Sitting Bill back to parliament

By Alfred Pagepitu

The Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) will reintroduce the Constitutional Amendment Constituent Assembly Sitting Bill in Parliament.

The bill, in its previous form, seeks to amend the provision on the date for the convening of the Constituent Assembly from 31st December 2024 to 31st December 2026.

It was not passed in parliament last year after failing to secure the majority votes required to make a constitutional amendment.

Speaking to the local media on Monday, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele called on all members of parliament to support the bill once it is brought to parliament.

“My government will bring the Constitutional Amendment Bill back to Parliament again, and I ask the MPs in the Opposition and Independent Group to support this Constitutional Amendment.”

He said the Government is reviewing the Bill’s Annexation Committee Report and the Constitution Amendment Constituent Assembly Sitting Bill 2024, No.5 of 2024, before finalizing the Bill to be tabled in Parliament in 2025.

He adds that the government is committed to addressing the issue of the state system through the Constituent Assembly process.

“GNUT is committed to addressing this through the Constituent Assembly process.”

He said that at the last sitting of Parliament in December last year, the GNUT tabled the Constitution Amendment Constituent Assembly Act 2023 to allow the work of the Constituent Assembly to continue into 2025 and beyond.

“Unfortunately, members of the Opposition opposed the amendment, even after the government had agreed to their proposed amendments to the bill.

“It was very sad to see MPs from provinces that strongly advocated for a state government system boycotting Parliament to defeat the passage of this bill,” Manele said.

He claimed the absence of members of Parliament during the second reading resulted in the bill being defeated on the floor of Parliament.

Despite this, the government called for and convened a meeting of the Constituent Assembly, CA, on 30 December 2024, which was attended by all premiers and government MPs and the leader of the Opposition.

In the Constituent Amendment Act 2023, the Constituent Assembly comprises 80 members: 50 members of parliament, 10 members representing provincial premiers and the mayor of the Honiara City Council, 10 officials representing the provincial government and Honiara City Council, and 10 representing the churches, private sector, youth, civil society organizations, women’s organizations, and trade unions.

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