The Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has told a visiting South Korean business executive, Young Ju Park, that his Democratic Coalition for Change Government will amend the country’s citizenship laws to allow dual citizenships.
Mr Ju Park is Solomon Islands Honorary Consul to South Korea.
Mr Sogavare said people from other countries with Solomon Islands connections can apply for dual citizenships after the amendment to the citizenship laws.
The Prime Minister has not revealed when exactly his government will submit to Parliament the amendment to the citizenship laws other than saying it could likely occur this year.
But he said the Ministry of Home Affairs which supervises the Citizenship portfolio will be putting together the amendment to the Citizenship Act.
Mr Sogavare said the government has decided to allow dual citizenships following exerted pressure by people overseas with Solomon Islands connections through marriage, birth and descendantcy, who do not want to surrender their current SI citizenships to the countries of residency.
Solomon Islands descendants can be found in Australia, Fiji and Samoa.
Mr Ju Park is also the Chairman of Eagon Group of Companies which has been logging Solomon Islands forests and is now being involved in reforestation of logged forests and replanting trees in logged plantations in New Georgia, Western Province, and on Choiseul Province.
By George Atkin
PM’s press secretariat & Gov’t communications
