2 September 2019
Working towards advancing good governance and strengthening democracy in the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands is in the process, I believe, of recruiting selected professional personnel to work in the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) which the DCGA has announced will be established following a raft of legislation which has already been passed into statute to facilitate the anti-corruption organization.
As an observer of the situation in the Solomon Islands for more than two decades already, I am pleased to see an improvement of a stronger and deepening demand for the type of governance featuring transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
I say this having read anecdotal and empirical evidence, albeit the concerns over allegations of corrupt practices remain.
In support of democratic governance the national parliament and the Members of Parliament play an important function in democratic consolidation and all MP�s should seek to work towards reforms that will serve to strengthen institutional checks and balances, including the establishment of the ICAC and, if I might add, the proper audit and accountability of the RCDF funds.
All MP�s in the Solomon Islands Parliament are accountable to those who elect them, and it is absolutely right that all Members of Parliament are fully accountable to their constituents for what they say and do when serving the country.
On election to office, all MP�s must abide by the seven principles of public life which forms the basis of ethical standards expected of holders of public office and set out in Parliamentary Codes of Conduct.
The seven principles being:� Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership.
It is expected that any holder of public office must be truthful and act, and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
Some MP�s in the past have been alleged of not being wholly truthful or misleading to their electorate and to the community at large, but let us hope that such actions, if true, will stop and that all MP�s will abide by their code of conduct in the best interests of advancing the country along the path of good governance and democracy.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
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