PROVINCIAL Premiers are taking a backseat following the defeat of the Constituency Assembly Meeting Amendment Bill 2024 in Parliament recently.
The Bill, which required a majority of 37 votes in Parliament, narrowly failed with only 36 of the 50 MPs voted.
Among GNUT members, 31 supported the Bill, two were abstained, and three voted against it. Fourteen MPs did not attend the vote.
The Bill sought to extend the deadline for convening the Constituent Assembly from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2026.
It also proposed increasing the assembly’s membership from 80 to 100 members. The Constituent Assembly’s primary goal is to consult on transitioning from the current unitary system, inherited from Great Britain, to a federal system.
Western Province Premier Billy Veo has stated that while provincial leaders are closely monitoring developments following the defeat of the Bill, they will not directly intervene in the current debate surrounding the push for a federal system.
The Bill’s failure represents a setback for provinces like Western, Guadalcanal, and Isabel, which have been advocating for a shift to a federal governance structure.
In an exclusive interview with the Solomon Star last week, Premier Veo emphasized the sensitivity of the issue and acknowledged that the power to address the matter rests with Parliament and national legislators.
“It is obvious and too sensitive as well, and we also did not have the power to involve in the recent issue, but it’s in the power of the Parliamentary, the legislators, they are the ones who took responsibility for this issue,” he explained.
Premier Veo confirmed that the review of the Provincial Government Act (PGA) of 1997 is ongoing.
The Western Provincial Government (WPG) has already submitted its report to the Ministry of Provincial Government Strengthening Institution (MPGIS). The review is expected to be tabled in the first quarter of this year.
“On the first quarter this year, they will table the review of the PGA 1997 Acts, and we are closely eyeing what progress will be made,” Premier Veo said.
He also noted that they had anticipated the outcome of the Constituent Assembly Meeting Amendment Bill 2024.
Premier Veo highlighted the existence of two parallel policy tracks: one focused on enacting a Constituent Assembly and the other on reviewing the PGA 1997.
He suggested that the PGA review offers an alternative path towards greater provincial autonomy following the bill’s defeat.
“So, if the first one is not working, like the defeat of the Constituent Assembly Amendment Bill, we had our chances to push and pave way for the deferral state whilst the reviewing of the PGA 1997 Acts is in process,” he said.
While Premiers are currently refraining from public statements, they continue to observe the situation closely.
Premier Veo affirmed that this does not signify a halt in the push for a federal system.
“However, this doesn’t stop us from pushing for a federal state. Western Province, Guadalcanal, and Isabel province are the ones that are so vocally about the issue for the statehood.
“We will never stop but keep pushing and strive until we reach what we wanted,’’ he further added.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star Gizo
