from Westminster government

Meanwhile, BSIP may get away from Westminster government

From a Honiara correspondent Although many laymen have had serious doubts about the wisdom of thrusting Westminster-type governments onto developing countries, the British Solomon Islands has pro duced the first government to come out flat-footed and try to do something else.

A Legislative Council Paper covering the proposals for getting the BSIP away from the stereotyped form of government inherited and mishandled by so many ex-British colonies was introduced at a meeting of the Legislative Council in Honiara in November.

A select committee will be set up early in 1969 to study the proposals.

Reserve powers

The main recommendation that the committee will have to study is that a single council will take over the legislative and executive functions at present exercised by the Legislative Council and the Executive Council.

This new council will be assisted by executive committees—probably four initially—dealing with social services, land and natural resources, communications and works and internal affairs (i.e., local govern ment, labour, etc.).

The proposal is for an elected majority of 15 members, with three ex-officio members and six public service members. The voting would remain as at present.

The High Commissioner would

have reserve powers and would decide the number of committees and the subjects to be dealt with by these committees. Certain subjects, notably responsibility for defence, internal security and police, certain matters relating to the public service and financial matters would be reserved to the High Commissioner.

The present BSIP constitution was introduced in 1967. It provides for a President (the Western Pacific High Commissioner) three ex-officio members, up to 12 public service members and 14 elected members.

There is provision for two non-voting nominated members, but they have not been appointed.

The 1967 Constitution also pro vides for an Executive Council (over which the WPHC presides) of not more than three ex-officio members and five other members, not more than one of whom is a public service member.

The current Executive Council is the crux of the whole desire for a new-type constitution in that it is the policy-making body. It has thus found itself with an increasing load of work, but work and policy-making in which the ordinary elected

member has very little say and ii which he can never become ex perienced.

To give elected members a bigge say in policy decisions, it was nece? sary, as the Chief Secretary whi introduced the paper put it, to eithe increase the size of the Executiv Council until it included all electe: members, or else break the work c the Executive Council down int sections, each handled by an executiv committee of its own.

Some of the Chief Secretary’s othe remarks were equally interesting especially to those who have alway expressed doubts about grafting fully-fledged British parliamentar system onto a completely differer cultural pattern. To quote: “In the course of these discussion [about the political progress of th BSIP] which have noted that th Westminster pattern of governmer has failed or had to be substantial! modified to meet the political need of some developing countries in th Commonwealth, increasing doubt hz been expressed whether in on circumstances . . . following th Westminster model is either suitabl or desirable. . . . Among us her in the Solomons, with our diversit of languages and customs, our lad as yet, of national unity or a syster of party politics, due largely to th scattered nature of our islands, th devisive effect of a Government an Opposition, which are essential t the successful operation of the Wesi minster model, does not appear likel to provide a simple, effective o uniforming system of Governmen" at this stage.”

Five points

A suitable government, accordin to the legislative paper must, amon other things: (a) be simple and chea to operate; (b) allow for the bes and most effective use of the avail able leaders and educated people (c) aim at unifying the divers geographical and cultural element in the BSIP; (d) be in a form readil understood by the people and, as fa as possible, in accordance with Mela nesian custom; (e) aim at gradua transfer of responsibility for govern ment from the civil service to electei members.

What the paper outlines is not, o course, terribly revolutionary. It i just commonsense. In the Solomon it is already being hailed as a patten of government suitable for othe small Pacific territories.

This remains to be seen. If wha comes out of it is just something tha the Solomon Islanders can unden stand, a great deal will have beei achieved.