THE MUCH anticipated Anti-Corruption Bill 2016 is not going anywhere near Parliament that soon.
The bill was controversially withdrawn over the weekend and the government has refused to take responsibility for it.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Sunday maintained the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC)’s position in getting the Bill through Parliament while blaming the Independent and Opposition groups for not rendering their support in “efforts” to push the Bill forward.
The Bill was expected to go before Parliament this week.
The PMO statement said the government felt disappointed that the Independent and Opposition groups’ were “actively trying to defeat the Anti-Corruption Bill 2016 for political convenience”, thus came to the decision not to move the Bill for Parliament proceedings.
“That parliamentary exercise will resume in due course and at a time when both sides of politics see eye-to-eye on the importance of this country having a robust anti-corruption regime in place,” said the PMO statement.
“We know the people of this nation will be disappointed but unfortunately it will be a futile exercise now if Parliament is to consider the Anti-Corruption Bill 2016 for the reasons stated above.”
The Bill’s withdrawal came after two Government backbenchers had walked out to join the Independent Group and the untimely resignation of the Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Lusibaea on Friday.
Although the backbenchers, MP for West Kwara’ae Sam Shemuel Iduri and MP for Malaita Outer Islands Martin Kealoe, both revoked their move on Sunday and returned their allegiance for the DCC.
The Independent and Opposition groups have not made any public comments on the issue.
The Bill’s withdrawal in the meantime would be a big blow to Prime Minister’s Manasseh Sogavare’s much talked campaign to fight corruption at a higher scale.
In December last year Sogavare promised that the Anti-Corruption Bill would be the DCC’s top priority agenda for 2016.
Sogavare said the Bill will be introduced to Parliament for its enactment in the first quarter of 2016.
News of the Bill’s withdrawal and the government’s excuse has caused outrage on social media.
Many feel that the DCC Government are intentionally holding back the Bill, having the full capacity number to push the Bill to Parliament.
“I don’t think this has anything to do with the Opposition or Independent Group as per the news release – it’s a ploy to try and shift responsibility onto someone else,” commented a member of online watchdog group Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII).
“Illogical [and] untruthful position and statement. Government has the number to pass the bill,” said another.
A law professional added: “This is an ordinary bill of parliament that only needs simple majority to pass. The DCCG has the number that is why they are the ruling government. They do not need the Independent or Opposition to pass the Bill. Please if you want to misled us try and do a better job. Do not insult our intelligence, I for one find it really offensive”.
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