Parliament

The objective:     The National Parliament fulfils its role as a legislative, representative and oversight body in accordance with the Solomon Islands Constitution.

 


Supporting the development of a National Parliament that is well-functioning and fulfils its representative, law-making and monitoring role is a key focus of the Solomon Islands Government - RAMSI’s partnership.

Delivered through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Parliamentary Strengthening Project is strengthening the staff and processes that operate within Solomon Islands National Parliament with the aim of improving the way the people of Solomon Islands are served by their elected representatives.

The strategy

RAMSI will provide assistance to the Solomon Islands Government to better equip MPs to undertake their Parliamentary functions including law-making, constituency representation and oversight of the Parliamentary executive. It will do this by:

  1. Strengthening Parliamentary procedural support services.
  2. Strengthening Parliamentary Committee secretariat services to ensure effective review of legislation and executive oversight.
  3. Strengthening Parliamentary information services.
  4. Strengthening Parliamentary corporate services.
  5. Strengthening Parliamentary education and community engagement services.
To learn more about some of the specific targets that have been set for each strategy, download the Partnership Framework document.

The challenges

During the tensions period, parliamentary sittings were often brief and irregular. Attendance by Members of Parliament (MPs) was poor, and many of the key activities expected from Parliament, such as the scrutiny of legislation, were not being properly undertaken.

With the return of law and order and improvements to the electoral process, the demand from Solomon Islanders for their MPs to fulfil their roles as lawmakers, scrutineers and representatives of their constituents has increased. While positive, this has subsequently placed greater demand on the Solomon Islands National Parliament Office, which has not, in the past, had the capacity to fulfil many of its obligations.

RAMSI’s work

RAMSI’s work to strengthen the systems and processes of Solomon Islands National Parliament is undertaken in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The work of this partnership covers the following key areas:

1. Procedures

By enhancing the procedures within Solomon Islands National Parliament Office, Parliament will be in a better position to serve its representative function. The key targets for this work include:

  • Creation of an effective procedures office.
  • Strengthened knowledge by both National Parliament Office and MPs of procedural issues.
  • Strengthened and timely processing and drafting of Bills.

2. Committees

Parliamentary Committees play a key role in the scrutiny of key parliamentary matters including legislation, public expenditure, foreign relations issues and parliamentary processes. By improving the performance of Parliamentary Committees, the legislative and oversight roles of Solomon Islands National Parliament will be strengthened. The key targets for this work include:

  • Adoption of new standing orders for Parliamentary committees.
  • Development and implementation of committee operations manuals.
  • Parliamentary committees are engaging more closely with constituencies through Provincial Committee meetings.

3. Information services

Enhancing the way Solomon Islands Parliament communicates and documents the work undertaken inside its walls is an important part of the strengthening of the National Parliament Office. The key targets for this work include:

  • Timely publication of Hansard and other parliamentary records.

  • Strengthened research capacity, including legal drafting services.

  • Broadcasting and webcasting of parliamentary debates.

4. Corporate services

Improving the way in which the National Parliament Office’s corporate functions, such as human resource, planning and budgeting are undertaken contributes to strengthening the office. The key targets for this work:

  • Professional development and induction programs are in place for MPs.Strengthened corporate planning and budgeting within the National Parliament Office.

5. Education and community engagement

Improved community understanding of the work of Parliament will ensure greater awareness of their representatives’ responsibilities. The key targets for this work include:

  • A program of visits to constituencies by the Speaker and MPs.
  • Increased understanding of Parliament by all Solomon Islanders.

Achievements so far

The work to strengthen the systems and processes of Solomon Islands National Parliament has resulted in a number of key achievements. Some of these include:

  • An increase in the number of Parliamentary Committee hearings from seven in 2004 to 133 in 2009, including the first outside Honiara, with 40 public hearings across all nine provinces.
  • Strengthened procedural support services for the Speaker, Clerk and MPs, setting precedents for parliamentary business and the application of Standing Orders.
  • Establishment of improved library, research and IT facilities for MPs.
  • The delivery of a post-election induction program for new MPs in November 2006, which was subsequently replicated in six provincial Parliaments following each province’s respective provincial elections.
  • The installation of an AU$400,000 sound system in the parliamentary chambers, which has significantly improved radio and television broadcasts of parliamentary sittings.
  • Launch of a parliamentary website, which includes daily Hansard documents for download.
  • Radio and television broadcasts of Parliament and key Committees.
  • Attendance by over 7000 people each year at National Parliament Open Day, where members of the public learn about the history and functions of National Parliament.