The Government’s solidarity is in question over its lack of number to push the Anti-Corruption Bill (ACB) 2017 forward without much resistance.
This came after Deputy Speaker, David Dei Pacha, has adjourned the continuation of the Committee of Supply in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon due to lack of quorum.
Its not the first time the parliament has experienced lack of quorum.
Both sides of the house managed to scrutinise 30 of the 70 clauses in the Bill.
Independent Leader, Dr Derek Sikua, called for suspension of meeting due to lack of quorum when Parliament resumed in the afternoon.
However, the number failed to reach 26 to allow the deliberation of the meeting after 15 minutes.
As such, Pacha decided to adjourn the meeting until 9.30m today.
One of the MPs in the Opposition said the government has more than 26 members to pass the Bill.
He said Opposition only has 13 members in its Group.
As such, he said government should not have any problem to continue with the deliberation of the committee of supply.
The Solomon Star found out that less than 25 members of government normally turned up every day for meeting.
The reasons for their absents were unknown.
On the other side of the house, the number was always fluctuating as well.
During the scrutinising of the Bill in the Committee of Supply, only MP for Aoke Langalanga, Mathew Wale, Independent Leader, Sikua, MP for East Honiara, Douglas Ete have raised questions towards the government on the Bill more often.
On the government side, Prime Minister Rick Hou, Attorney General James Apaniai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Manasseh Sogavare defended the government from the onslaught of the Opposition and Independent Group.
It is still not sure when the Anti-Corruption Bill (ACB) is going to pass after Mr Hou introduced it last Thursday.
The ACB aims to establish the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption.
It was one of the flagships Bill of the former Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) government, which was withdrawn last year.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
