Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo last night welcomed and commissioned the work of a PNG Team from the Political Parties Registry to the Solomon Islands.

The PNG Team led by the Registrar of Political Parties, Dr Alphenso Gelu, comprises five senior staff of the PNG Registry of Political Parties including John Bishop, Deputy Registrar and Director Funding and Disclosure; Ila Pala, Manager Funding and Disclosure; Blaise Turgone, Manager Budgeting and Planning; and Mr Emmanuel Pok, Manager Policy and Research. Dr Eric Kwa, Secretary of the Constitutional & Law Reform Commission is also here to assist the PNG Team and Solomon Islands Government.

The PNG Team is here to help the Solomon Islands Government set up the Registry of Political Parties for Solomon Islands. The Team is fully funded by the Government of Papua New Guinea.

In his welcoming remarks last night the Honorable Prime Minister confirmed that the process of establishing the Registry of Political Parties is well underway and it will run in parallel to the progress in the passage of the Political Parties Integrity Bill in Parliament.

The Prime Minister expressed the Government’s sincere appreciation to the Government of Papua New Guinea for their generous assistance in the form of the Team that is being fully resourced by the PNG Office of the Prime Minister.

Also in attendance last night were the New Zealand High Commissioner and the Head of the EU Delegation in Solomon Islands.

These are other development partners who will, in addition to PNG, be assisting to set up the Registry of Political Parties and to assist develop the regulations and integrity standards of the proposed law.

Dr. Gelu and his team will be here from 22 April to 3 May to work with local counterparts for 2 weeks. Their work with the OPMC has already commenced today.

Press Release: GCU