The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated constitutional amendments to grant more autonomy and self-governing status to the people of Malaita and Guadalcanal. No such amendment or autonomy-granting legislation was initiated in 2000. In addition, the peace agreement further specified that jurisdiction over land ownership be allocated to Guadalcanal provincial or state government. This jurisdiction transfer was not legalized in 2000.

The Townsville Peace Agreement called for the creation of a Constitutional Council within 28 days of signing, tasked with rewriting the Constitution to provide more autonomy to provinces. No Constitutional Council was established in 2000, and no changes to the Constitution were initiated in 2000.

In January 2001, a team of British constitutional lawyers committed to a 3-month stay in the Solomon Islands, during which they would advise on the drafting process as the government reformulated the Constitution to accommodate greater autonomy for provinces.^[1]

^[1] “British lawyer to help amend constitution,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, January 18, 2001.

On November 2, 2002, the Solomon Islands Government signed the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded project Support to Constitutional Reform Programme. The project included UNDP assistance to the Solomon Islands to develop proposals for devolution of constitutional power and decentralization. The project was scheduled to draw on a socio-economic impact assessment and consultations with the nine provinces to draft a framework for a new constitution.^[1]

^[1] “Solomon Islands signs UN-funded constitutional reform,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, November 5, 2002.

In January 2003, the UNDP began initiatives to solicit citizens’ input on proposals for the new constitution.^[1] These were completed on September 5.^[2] In September, political leadership of the Solomon Islands began debating the process of constitutional change.^[3] However, no constitution or amendment was drafted in 2003.

^[1] “Teams fan out to consult Solomon Islanders on new constitution,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, January 30, 2003.

^[2] “Solomons provincial constitutional consultation round completed,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, September 5, 2003.

^[3] “Solomon Islands leaders discuss constitutional change,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, September 19, 2003.

In October, the 2004 Draft Federal Constitution of Solomon Islands was published.^[1] The draft was set to circulate among stakeholders for input before being interpreted into a bill to appear before parliament.

^[1] Draft Federal Constitution of Solomon Islands 2004, Provincial Institutional Strengthening and Development Unit and Department of Provincial Government & Constituency Development, October 2004.

During 2005, the draft constitution circulated among stakeholders, such as citizens and provincial leaders.^[1][2] However, no proposal to replace the current constitution was submitted to parliament in 2005.

^[1] “Residents of Solomon Islands’ North Malaita hear federal constitution plans,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, March 11, 2005.

^[2] “Solomon Islands western leaders defer federal constitution deliberations,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, February 25, 2005.

No developments observed in this year.

The Solomon Islands Constitutional Congress (CC), the central body working on the Constitutional Reform Program, was formally appointed in 2007. The CC is comprised of representatives from the provinces and representatives from the central government. The body acts as a liaison between Congress and the Constitutional Reform Program. It is charged with considering constitutional reviews and reports, consulting with provincial political communities, soliciting constitution drafts and informing the Solomon Islands political community when a final draft is constructed. The Elder’s Advisory Group (later re-named the Eminent Persons Advisory Council or EPAC) was created as a body of the CC, representing primarily traditional leaders to provide technical assistance.^[1]

In July 2007, the Constitution Reform Unit was established in the Office of the Prime Minister.^[2] The body was charged with the management and coordination of the Constitutional Reform Project.^[3]

^[1] “Information on the Constitutional Congress & EPAC,” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program, May 2014.

^[2] “Timeline of CRU’s work output,” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program, July 2016.

^[3] “Information on the Constitutional Reform Unit (CRU),” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program.

The Constitutional Reform Unit and Constitutional Congress continued operations in 2008. From May to June 2008, provincial teams conducted consultations in the provinces of the Solomon Islands as well as Honiara. Team committees were created to address seven critical themes of constitutional reform: foundation provisions, federal political systems and powers, public finance and revenue sharing, law and justice, fundamental human rights and freedoms (and other rights), constitutional institutions, representations and public service, and transition. From September to November, the teams deliberated.^[1] In December, the theme committees commenced to issue reports on their respective deliberations.^[2]

^[1] “Information on the Constitutional Congress & EPAC,” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program, May 2014.

^[2] “Timeline of CRU’s work output,” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program, July 2016.