Port Vila, 31 October 2024: The Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission (SILRC) and the Vanuatu Law Reform Commission (VLRC) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster collaboration through a twinning program aimed at enhancing training and professional development for their officers.
The signing ceremony was attended by Hon. Clezy Rore (MP), Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs of the Solomon Islands, alongside members of his delegation. This event follows the signing of an inaugural MOU between the Ministries of Justice of both nations, which took place on 23 October 2024 at the Chiefs Nakamal.
In his welcoming remarks, the Secretary of the VLRC, Lawson Samuel highlighted the significance of this occasion, noting that discussions had begun before the recent Solomon Islands Joint election in April 2024. He extended his congratulations to Hon. Minister Rore on his re-election, marking his visit as a historic moment—the first time a foreign Minister of Justice has visited the VLRC.
The Secretary emphasized that this MOU represents a formalization of the recently established informal relationship between the VLRC and SILRC, building upon a similar agreement signed with the Papua New Guinea Law Reform Commission in October 2018.
Mr. George Hoa’Au, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs for the Solomon Islands, expressed optimism about the potential for mutual learning between the two countries. "This MOU encourages us to look inward for inspiration in our reforms rather than seeking lessons from afar," he stated.
Chairman of the SILRC, Philip Kanairara, also expressed his support for the MOU, stating that it paves the way for mutual collaboration and knowledge sharing, crucial for achieving effective law reform in both nations.
The MOU encompasses key areas of law reform, including legal research, stakeholder engagement, report writing, strategic planning, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.
Following the signing, both commissions engaged in discussions regarding potential collaborative projects, including studies on electoral processes and customary land demarcation in Melanesia. The VLRC outlined opportunities for leveraging the MOU to enhance law reform efforts and proposed that SILRC representatives visit Vanuatu before annual consultations in May and November to better engage with local stakeholders.
This significant MOU between the VLRC and SILRC is seen as a valuable opportunity for both nations to embrace shared cultural and linguistic ties (Bislama and Pijin) to strengthen their law reform initiatives.
