THE State of Public Emergency (SOPE) will soon end on 24th July.
That’s according to Attorney General (AG) John Muria Jr when speaking during the national talk-back show over the national broadcaster yesterday.
“We know that on the 24th July our State of Public Emergency will come to an end,” he said.
However, he added the government is still waiting on what the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) is currently doing. “As soon as their advisors come in then we will know further step take in terms of SOPE,” he added.
He said the BLC still continues with consultation into the Health Pandemic Bill.
“If the report comes before parliament that time and we debate the bill and if it is passed we might go into a new phase or era of the Pandemic Health Bill,” he said.
He further added that if BLC is not ready, the most sensible thing to do and maintain to protect our country is to continue another SOPE.
“But I am not saying that is what going to happen, we just wait for what the BLC is doing, BLC will advise us on what progress they have done on the new bill,” he said.
He said BLC will be doing provincial consultations.
“BLC has indicated that they will be doing provincial consultations and I think they have started those consultations (I stand to be corrected),” he said.
He said the reported on the consultations will be debated into Parliament.
“We understand the parliament will be sited and back to session on the 12th of July,” he said.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
Newsroom, Honiara
