31 Jan 2007

Solomons delegation to collect report on draft constitution

7:43 pm on 31 January 2007

A Solomon Islands delegation is in New Zealand to collect a report from an academic team which has been reviewing the country's draft federal constitution.

The delegation to Wellington is led by the Minister for Provincial Government and Rural Development, Japhet Waipora.

Tomorrow they will be briefed at Victoria University by the person who conducted the "audit" of their draft constitution, Andrew Ladley, from the University's Institute of Policy Studies.

The draft constitution would establish a federal system of government for Solomon Islands and facilitate the development of self-government for the nine provinces.

The draft is widely available for perousal on the internet.

Mr Ladley describes their report as an external check on the draft, part of an ongong consultative process which the Solomons' parliament has unanimously agreed on.

He says he will be reporting on what caution and practical measures his review team suggests over the draft.