27 Jul 2020

Solomons govt seeking extension to state of public emergency

8:16 pm on 27 July 2020

The Solomon Islands government is seeking an extension to the country's latest State of Public Emergency.

The last emergency period, declared in March because of the covid-19 pandemic, expired on the 24th of July.

It was immediately replaced with a new two-week State of Public Emergency declared by the country's governor general, Sir David Vunagi.

This week Solomon Islands parliament resumed its sitting with a four-month extension of the declaration, the main item of government business for the week.

Solomon Islands is yet to register a case of the coronavirus and in the lead up to this week's sitting there was some intense public debate about the need for a further extention of the State of Public Emergency.

The National Parliament of Solomon Islands overlooking Honiara City

The National Parliament of Solomon Islands overlooking Honiara City Photo: RNZ Koroi Hawkins