I read today in the Island Sun newspaper that a total of 34 communities in five wards in Malaita province have launched and enforced their community bylaws as are now benefiting from them.
The full article said.
Quote,
The launching of these community bylaws came as a result of great work done under the Community Governance and Grievance Management Project (CGGMP), supported by MPGIS through MPG and donor partners for Malaita province.
The Coordinator for CGGMP in Malaita, Mr. Emmanuel Maesua said in 2019, his office prepared a bylaw draft after consultation with other responsible stakeholders and issued the draft to communities in the province through CLOS.
He said the whole idea is to create a roadmap through the bylaw template for communities to contribute by way of contextualising the draft to their situation and adopt it.
Mr. Maesua said this is what had happened and positive feedback has been received from communities on the initiative and the achievements made so far.
He said the first launching of the bylaw under the CGGMP was made in ward-five which is a “ward bylaw” governing 27 communities within the ward which is represented by Premier Daniel Suidani.
Mr.Maesua said other community bylaws included three in ward 28, two in ward 29 and one each for ward 10 and nine in the province.
He said at the moment his office has 47 community bylaws which are at a draft stage.
Mr.Maesua said so far his office continues to receive requests for the programme and he expects more communities to take onboard the initiative for the good of their communities.
He said the programme was one of the major components under the CGGMP that had tried to address and manage grievances through the governing structures in communities.
Mr.Maesua said the bylaw component however supports the project through it’s strive to keep law and order in communities that can also allow the governing system in the community to prosper.
End of quote.
Comment
I am interested to learn of the bylaw concept and implementation in various wards throughout Malaita.
I wonder, however, about enforcement measures in such bylaws and who and by what authority provisions the laid down laws will be “enforced” and what penalty provisions exist.
I presume, without having seen any of the bylaws that legal advice was obtained by Mr. Maesua’ office in the drafting of the bylaws and in the wording of the provisions to be exercised and followed.
I wonder, too, how the bylaws incorporate the traditional role of chiefs and elders in communities.
Additionally, how the RSIPF might have a place in enforcement of the bylaws and in dealing with any breaches of the bylaw provisions.
Naturally, my wish is to see law and order prevail in all communities in the Solomon Islands and the application of community bylaws perhaps a move in the right direction if they can be enforced and fairly administered, but time will tell.
My final comment is whether or not the question of community bylaws was ever raised at the national level and with a national body of traditional chiefs, if such a body exists today, and with the RSIPF, especially with those in the police service charged with the implementation of community policing policy and initiatives.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
