First of all, let me thank the Speaker, Hon. Simon Pentanu for delegating to me the opportunity to represent the Bougainville House of Representatives in the 52nd Presiding Officers’ and Clerks’ Conference hosted by the Solomon Islands Parliament from the 2nd -6th July 2023,
The Conference provided a good opportunity for me to join the Speakers and Clerks from the Pacific Region, Australia and New Zealand, to exchange ideas, share experiences, and expand our knowledge on parliamentary practices and procedures. The theme for this year’s conference is “Building Strong and Resilient Parliaments“, which underscore their commitment to the development of robust democratic institutions in the Pacific Region.
The three days’ conference began at Government House with a welcome reception hosted by the Governor General of the Solomon Islands, Sir David Vunagi, GCMG KstJ followed by an official opening ceremony at Parliament on Monday 3rd July. This included a welcome from the Speaker, Hon. Paterson Otti, followed by a traditional welcome ceremony by the Malango House of Chiefs, representing the Landowners of Guadalcanal, who presented the Chupu, symbolizing their hospitality and respect for the conference attendees. The Chupu also displayed traditional wealth represented with a pig, garden food and betel nut. Betel nut was handed to the delegates as a gesture of peace and enhancement of discussions in the conference.
I was included in the procedures on the election of the Chair of the 52nd POCC, and joined the Clerk to present the Bougainville House of Representatives Jurisdiction Report which updated the Conference on latest events happening in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea in terms of the Post Referendum Consultations between the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the National Government.
Meetings between the Parliament of New South Wales and Solomon Islands Parliament and the Bougainville House of Representatives further strengthened the twinning arrangement which the House of Representatives signed with the Parliament of New South Wales in 2010.
Presentation of the Chupu by the Malango House of Chiefs representing the landowners of Guadalcanal. The Bougainville Flag flies high during the duration of the 52nd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference in Honiara.
New Zealand Parliament’s interest in moving forward with the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians program will see woman representatives from Parliaments in the Pacific Region converge in New Zealand later this year to discuss common issues affecting them as members of parliament.
The Prime Minister, Manaseh Sogovare extended his invitation to Bougainville to Join the people of the Solomon Islands to celebrate the 45th Independence Anniversary on Friday 7th July 2023. Celebrating the independence anniversary under the Theme: Rising above and Overcoming our Challenges as one People” concluded my official duties in the Solomon Islands.
The Bougainville House of Representatives looks forward to attending the 53rd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference to be hosted by the Parliament of South Australia in Adelaide in 2024.
Annual Parliamentary Conference for the Presiding Officers and Clerks
The Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference is an annual parliamentary event that brings together Speakers and Clerks in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Region to share issues affecting their Nation’s legislature. The Speaker and Clerk of the Bougainville House of Representatives have attended previous Presiding Officers and Clerks Conferences (POCC), and utilized this gathering to provide an update on the developments taking place in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, particularly in the House of Representatives, and also participate on discussions regarding regional and global issues that pose challenges to the work parliaments do today.
Since its inception as a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in 2006, the Speaker and the Clerk have attended POCCs and meetings for small branches of the CPA. The COVID-19 health measures partly contributed to Bougainville’s nonattendance of the POCC. However, Bougainville did attend the 51st Presiding Officers and Clerks’ Conference in Melbourne, State of Victoria, virtually due to funding constraints.
The three days’ conferences began at Parliament House on Monday 3rd July with an official opening ceremony including a welcome from the Speaker, Hon. Paterson Otti, followed by a traditional welcome ceremony by the Malango House of Chiefs, representing the Landowners of Guadalcanal, who presented the Chupu, symbolizing their hospitality and respect for the Conference attendees. The Chupu also displayed traditional wealth represented with a pig, garden produce, and betel nut. Betel nut was handed to the delegates as a gesture of peace and enhancement of discussions in the conference.
Election of the Chair and Deputy Chair
Speaker of the Solomon Islands Parliament, Patterson Otti was elected Chair while President of South Australia Legislative Council, Hon. Terry Stephens was elected Deputy Chair of the 52nd Presiding Officers and Clerk’s Conference which, according to the host Parliament, “provides a good opportunity for the Pacific Presiding Officers and Clerks to come together to exchange ideas, share experiences, and expand our knowledge on parliamentary practices and procedures” under the theme “Building Strong and Resilient Parliaments” which underscores our commitment to the development of robust democratic institutions in the Pacific Region.
In his keynote address, the President of the Congress of New Caledonia, Hon. Roch Wamytan, UC, highlighted the significance of strong parliamentary institutions and their role in shaping a better future for the Region.
During the conference, delegates discussed strengthening parliamentary security and how
Parliaments can best meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world for the people they represent. They also participated in workshops and presented conference papers on a range of topics.
President of the Australian Senate highlighted the importance of resilience and innovation in Parliaments sighted the experiences in the Federal Parliament of Australia,
Senator Hon. Sue Lines, the Speaker of the Solomon Islands, Hon. Patterson J. Oti and the Clerk of the Parliament of New South Wales, David Blunt provided insightful presentations on the innovative approaches and measures required for building resilient Parliaments that can adapt to the evolving challenges of the modern world.
Progress on the Bougainville Referendum Dialogue was raised, firstly during the presentation of the Bougainville House of Representatives Jurisdiction Report and secondly, in a conference paper on the Parliamentary Partnership arrangements between the Bougainville House of Representatives and the National Parliament presented by the Clerk of the National Parliament, Mr Kala Aufa.
The first advice to the Speaker of the National Parliament on the proposed
Sessional Order as a proposed procedure of bringing in the 97.7 % vote on independence for Bougainville was highlighted by Mr. Aufa.
Other topics presented during the conference included parliamentary privileges and procedures, and strengthening parliament security and precinct. The presentation of Jurisdiction Reports by each Parliament was the main highlight of the Conference.
Twinning meetings
The Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference also provides an opportunity for twinned parliaments to convene their respective meetings to review parliamentary partnership activities and also consider new activities to further strengthen existing partnerships between Australian States Parliaments and Parliaments in the Pacific Region.
The Parliament of New South Wales is twinned with the Solomon Islands Parliament and the Bougainville House of Representatives. The Parliamentary Partnership arrangement between the Parliament of New South Wales and the Bougainville House of Representatives was signed in Buka in 2010. Since then, Bougainville has benefitted from the twinning programs which included a staff exchange program, between both parliaments, training attachments, parliamentary visits, and ongoing support provided by the New South Parliament to have access to funding support under the Pacific Parliamentary Partnership Fund.
The twinning meeting was attended by the following:
New South Wales Parliament
Hon. Rod Roberts Deputy President of the Legislative Council and Chair of Committees
Hon. Greg Piper Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Mr. David Blunt Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the Legislative Council
Ms. Helen Minnican Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Solomon Islands Parliament
Hon. Patterson Otti Speaker of Parliament
Mr. David Kusilifu Clerk of Parliament
Bougainville House of Representatives
Hon. Therese Naru Kaetavara, MHR, Deputy Speaker
Robert Tapi Clerk of Parliament
Thomas Iobo Inter-Parliamentary Relations Officer
The Speaker of the Solomon Islands Parliament, Hon. Patterson Otti acknowledges the acceptance by the President of South Australia Legislative Council, Hon. Terry Stephens to host the 53rd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, in Adelaide, South Australia in 2023.
The twinned parliaments agreed to maintain the parliamentary partnership and pursue joint commitments such as the reciprocal visit to the New South Wales Parliament, this year, by a delegation from the Bougainville House of Representatives.
The twinning meeting noted the forthcoming 66th CPA Annual Conference in Ghana, the Deputy Speaker’s Spouses Program, and outstanding membership fees owed to the CPA by the Bougainville House of Representatives.
CPA Pacific Region comprises New Zealand Parliament and the Parliaments in the Pacific Region. CPA Australia Region comprises the Federal Parliament and State Parliaments in Australia. The Regional Meetings are then followed by Joint Pacific/Australia Regional meetings.
Excursion to the Amazing Grace Cocoa Farm
The Conference Delegates were given a traditional welcome at the Amazing Grace Cocoa Farm and were taken on a short tour to the cocoa farm fermenting and drying site, and hands-on experience in value-adding activities such as roasting cocoa beans.
The delegates were entertained by a local cultural group with traditional music and dances and witnessed a demonstration of traditional cooking The popular Solomon Islands necklaces were also on display and sold to the visitors.
45th Independence Anniversary Celebrations
The people of Solomon Islands celebrated the Nation’s 45th Independence Anniversary on Friday 6th July 2023.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Therese Kaetavara, and other delegates of the conference were invited by the Prime Minister. Manaseh Sogovare joined in the celebrations which commenced with a float within the Honiara township, and a display of colorful traditional dances, and a parade by the Solomon Islands Field Forces, Police, youths, and students in the main celebrations arena.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manaseh Sogovare delivers his 45th Independence Anniversary statement which reaffirms his government’s commitment to maintaining relationships with the government of the People’s Republic of China.
Conclusion
(From Left-Right) NSW Parliament Clerk David Blunt, Bougainville House of Representatives Clerk Robert Tapi, current Solomon Islands Parliament Clerk, David Kusilifu, Former Clerk of Solomon Islands, Taesi Sanga & Clerk of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Helen Minican.
The 52nd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference ended with some memorable statements delivered at the official closing dinner at Parliament House. One of the Speakers brought back a Solomon Islands traditional gift, a Solomon basket, which was presented to him during the first Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference hosted by the Solomon Islands Parliament.
The Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mr. Robert Tapi, while speaking on behalf of the Clerks from the Pacific Region, reminded the Conference of a declaration made during the 2012 Presiding Officers and Clerk’s Conference.
During that Conference, the Clerk of the Parliament of New South Wales, Mr. David Blunt, speaking on behalf of the Clerks, declared the former Clerk of the Solomon Islands Parliament, Taesi Sanga, and the Clerk of the Bougainville House of Representatives, Robert Tapi as Peace Makers and Foundation Clerks in the Pacific Region.
Providing leadership in post-conflict parliaments was a challenge faced by both staged on the Clerks in their respective jurisdictions.
In all, the 52nd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference will be remembered as an event that coincided with the 45th Independence Anniversary of the Solomon Islands, and the eve of the South Pacific Games in Honiara.