THE REFORM Democratic Party of Solomon Islands (RDPSI) vows to change the country’s national constitution once allowed to form the next Government after the August 4 National General Election.

Party leader and founder, Danny Philip said his party plans to reform the Constitution so that locals become the “true owners of the state and its institutions.”

 

Mr Philip, an experience parliamentarian who served four terms in Parliament, revealed this during an election forum in Honiara yesterday.

 

The forum was organized by the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) as a lead up to the August 4 general election.

 

Mr Philip said the mess experienced in ‘our society’ has been here since independence and yet past governments failed to address it.

 

He said he had been out in politics for about eight years where during that time he attempted to research the country’s political experience after independence.

 

Me Philip said in his research into the country’s political experience he saw Solomon Islands as a country that was never meant to be.

He said even the constitution of the country “shamefully failed to recognize the way we are”.

 

Mr Philip said for years our cultural values were only assumed and resource owners were not faired to in return of their resources.

 

He said his Party plans to pursue constitutional and social reforms that aim to make the country best.

 

“Our party (RDPSI) is here for one reason only and that is to return the total ownership of the country and its Government to the people” he said.

 

He said his party believe that our people should be the owners of our resources and only support the state institutions.

 

“By doing that, owners of our resources will not only own the state but its institutions, a state won’t function if land is customary owned.

 

He said his Party wants to create a fully functional state more than the previous and current Government and so his Party feels to have to start with reforms.

 

“This country cannot be modern and inclusive until locals are recognized as owners of this country.

 

Mr Philip who served previously as a three-time Deputy Prime Minister said though it looks difficult to achieve the reforms proposed he is confident his Party can achieve it.

 

 

He said if RDPSI is given the opportunity to be part of any Government formed after the August elections, they will for the most, contributed to government planning.

 

RDPSI has 31 candidates to contest the upcoming election including two women.

 

The RDPSI is expected to head to the Western Province to launch their policy platform and from there launch their political campaign.

By
2010