DEAR EDITOR – Transparency Solomon Islands congratulates the newly appointed Chairman of the Political Parties Commission Mr. Francis Billy Hilly, newly appointed Commissioner Lady Joy Kere and continuing Commissioners Mrs. Taeasi Sanga and Dr. Jack Maebuta. It is encouraging to see this Commission continuing to be gender-balance. Transparency Solomon Islands urges the Executive Government to provide them with the resources both, finance and human that the Commission will needs to do its work.
The Political Parties Commission is an important Commission, being the Institution that is responsible for the management, administration, and the proper development of the political parties system in Solomon Islands. More importantly it is a commission responsible for the integrity of political parties and their discipline playing an important role to ensuring democracy survives in our beloved country. The country can be proud that we have seasoned, and experienced commissioners. TSI hopes that they can bring about the reforms that are needed in the Political Parties Integrity Act, for the proper development of the political party system and political parties in Solomon Islands. The review and reform of the Political Parties Integrity Act was one of the fundamental reform programs of the previous Prime Minister Sogavare led government and continues to be so in this current Executive Government. The review has gone through country-wide consultation during the 9th Parliament and the 10th Parliament, most work carried out under the Chairmanship of late Sir Paul Tovua. It now, needs to make its way to the Parliament to address the issues of 2014 National General Election and those of 2019 National General Election. Transparency Solomon Islands understands that this work has been completed and now needs to clear the Cabinet Process and Parliament before the coming National General Election. This year is the right time to do that and Chairman Hilly having been involved in those consultations as the founding fathers and eminent people of this country TSI can take this to the next level.
Transparency Solomon Islands is also pleased to see Lady Kere being appointed to the Commission. With her wealth of experience, she could also serve in many more institutions of the government adding value to those institutions. In the same manner TSI believes that being a former Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, and politician Mr. Francis Billy Hilly is best placed to navigate the political landscape to get the reforms endorsed and enacted by this 11th Parliament.
CONGRATULATIONS COMMISSIONERS OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES COMMISSION. The country looks forward to your intervention and your guidance for the healthy development of Political Parties System in Solomon Islands.
By TSI