On New Solomons Constitution

Politicians Do A Soft Shoe Shuffle

From a Honiara correspondent

Armed with something like 23 representations—both written and oral —the Solomon Islands Government’s special select committee on con stitutional development has gone to the people in the districts to see what they feel about the whole business.

To many people not au fait with the inner workings of government this would seem like putting the cart before the horse. Twenty-three opinions from a population of 163,000 does not provide a wide platform on which to build the Solomons future constitution.

Yet this is apparently what is hap pening. To an outsider the interim report on the committee’s findings (broadcast on radio earlier in May) seems innocuous enough.

It basically provides for the up grading of chairmen of government committees to ministerial level, the selection of a chief minister, the down grading of the High Commissioner to governor level, an increase in - the number of constituencies (a possibility already being looked into by a special boundaries committee) and an overall upgrading of political responsibility by elected representatives in the running of the country’s internal affairs.

There is also some talk of an upper house, or house of elders, or senate, or collection of chiefs to try and sort out some of the muddle between custom and European style law.

Whether this would be included in the constitution or something tacked on afterwards is not generally known, but plenty of people in the villages and out in the districts are certain there should be something in this vein.

One thing is certain: whatever the style of the constitution which comes before Governing Council members in November, it will carry a provision for voting in self-government when ever all members of a future council so feel inclined.

So far, so good. So what’s all the secrecy regarding the interim report.

Except for a single radio broadcast which let slip the above points there has not been a squeak since—either written or verbal.

Government insiders are not saying much, but it is strongly suspected that high level government officials are petrified that the people may think a cut and dried co~stitution is being

forced down their collective neck, resulting in unpredictable reactions.

On the face of it, it is highly unlikely that a general populace which at the best is hazy on how the current con stitution works, would make a big song and dance about a small step up in the government of the country.

Two sub-committees made the first sorties into the districts to test feelings and gauge reactions. The full com mittee consists of all Governing Council members chaired by the Chief Secretary. It split into parties of three or four to “go to the people”.

The feelings and reactions in both cases were mild. The main revelation was the extreme difference in thinking between the rural people and the main centres, particularly Honiara. If the rural people have it their way, there

will be no break from Britain for a long, long time to come. And if any thing is to be changed they wanted to make good and sure that they are consulted first. It perhaps brought out the disparity in development between the districts and main centres.

The areas toured first were Guadal canal and the Eastern District, where in most cases sub-committees had to spend much time explaining how the present constitution worked before unfolding the interim report. In nearly all areas where the sub-committees stopped to talk it was reported to be well appreciated by the people. This is understandable as this is perhaps the first time in recent years when the central government has bothered to go to the people themselves for their opinions.

But the big question was—why didn’t they go sooner, and with full publicity to help put the population in the picture as well as to promote some form of political education so that everyone, north and south, east and west, would have some idea of what was being talked about?

It’s great for the people who managed to make it to the meetings, but by the time the story gets around third hand to the people who didn’t, there is some confusion.

The other question is: what hap pens when all the sub-committees have toured and reported their find ings? Are we going to be offered some other type of constitution so there will be two or maybe three forms of government to choose from?

Somehow this is doubtful. It is a safe guess that the interim report, or summary of conclusions, will stand fast with maybe a small change here and there.

When the country goes to the polls next year Govco will have 24 or 25 elected members, and it won’t be called Govco any more but will be known as the Legislature, and there will be five or six ministers who will hold cabinet meetings in private instead of the present full council meetings. The High Commissioner will relinquish some of his powers over a period of time and eventually become governor, and the chief minister will gradually take over more and more responsibility.

Onward to self-government and on to independence—whenever that may be. The bets are on.