THE ATTORNEY GENERAL has updated the country on the Health Pandemic Bill.
He was making the quick update on the talkback show at the national broadcaster, Sunday.
AG John Muria Jr said the Health Pandemic Bill still in its consultation and amendment process at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.
It will be brought to parliament for debate on the 1st week of March.
“The timeline for the submission of the bill to parliament will be on the first week of March,” he said.
He said last week they held the consultations meeting at Heritage Park Hotel with the diplomatic commission, civil society organisation, Guadalcanal Province, and Honiara City Council.
The consultation is the first consultation for this year after a long break from last year after the first positive case was announced in the country.
Muria Jr said there were three consultations that were held last year and we rest due to the first positive case in the country.
“We rest a bit when we have a positive case in the country,” he said.
He added that the number of consultations will be held this week and next week and going to February as well.
“We are currently on track on the number of consultations for provinces that are unable to come last year,” he said.
AG Muria Jr wants to update the nation that they also in an amendment on the number of regulations on the Health Pandemic Bill.
The number of amendments involves predeparture amendment and minimum testing mechanism or types of testing.
On the predeparture amendment assessment on which country is going coming from, because every country has different risks assessment.
Some country is a low risk, moderate, high risk and extremely high-risk country.
“If you do not have a pre-departure testing you will not be allowed to travel inside the country,” he said.
He said on the pre-departure testing we also have minimum testing mechanisms or types of testing.
On the amendment a minimum testing is the PCR testing, this covers the geneXpert and qpcr machine other testing machines will not be accepted he added.
AG John Muria also mentions that the amendment also will look at the Prescribe fees.
He said prescribe fees will be applied for incoming and outgoing candidates.
There is more to say in the Health Pandemic Bill but AG Muria Jr just keeps it brief for all listeners and readers in the country.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
HONIARA NEWSROOM
