THE chairman of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) has hailed the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) Government for its pledge to support and strengthen the work of the commission.
Frank Paulsen was speaking yesterday at the commission’s launch of a consultation paper on Homicide Offences.
He said, the Government has identified the Law Reform Commission as one of the institutions that will be strengthened and supported to enable it to effectively reform the nation’s laws.
“The DCC government has identified about 60 pieces of legislation for enactment, review and reform in its policy document,” Mr Paulsen said.
“The government must be commended for taking this bold step to reform and enact laws for the good of the country and its citizens,” he added.
“That is an immense task to implement, but achievable if it is properly organised, managed, monitored, and adequately resourced.
“I know the government has already started consultations with the relevant government institutions.
“This only goes to show how serious the DCC government is about keeping its promise to the people of Solomon Islands as articulated in its policy documents.”
Mr Paulsen however, added that law reform priority of any government should be to reform the laws that would give the best possible benefits to our people.
He suggested that priority areas are in:
1. Economic laws (insurance, labour, financial institutions, fisheries, forestry, mining, petroleum);
2. Social laws (family, education, health);
3. Political laws (integrity of political parties and candidates);
4. Religious laws.
He reiterated that the importance of law reform should be taken seriously.
“This is because the benefits of effective law reform are many.
“Conversely, the problems that are brought by lack of properly organised and coordinated law reform are also equally many,” he said.
By SOLOMON LOFANA