MEMBERS of Parliament (MP) will debate whether to extend the State of Public Emergency (SOPE) for additional four (4) months or not.
Therefore, Governor General Sir David Vunagi said he will leave the matter for Parliament to decide.
Sir Vunagi revealed this when delivering the speech from the throne at the 5th meeting of the 11th Parliament at the National Parliament, Monday.
“I understand that Parliament will debate whether this State of Public Emergency should be extended for the next four months or not.
“Therefore, I will leave this matter here for Parliament to decide as provided for by our Constitution,” he said.
When GG delivered his address to Parliament in 2020, five days after World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 as the global pandemic, very little was known about this global pandemic.
“Since then, I have made a number of declarations to declare that a State of Public Emergency exists in Solomon Islands.
“I have also made several Regulations as provided for under the Emergency Powers Act.
“A couple of days ago I made another declaration that there exists a State of Public Emergency in Solomon Islands,” he said.
Parliament was adjourned on Monday and has resumed today.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
Newsroom, Honiara
