Pacific / Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands parliament to consider dual citizenship

15:21 pm on 11 August 2016

A dual citizenship bill for Solomon Islands will be introduced to Parliament by early next year.

Photo: RNZI Koroi Hawkins

The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation says the prime minister Manasseh Sogavare made the announcement in response to questions from the Solomon Islands community in Brisbane last week.

Mr Sogavare said dual citizenship would enable Solomon Islanders studying and working abroad to participate in national general elections and that would lead to improved quality of leadership in the Solomon Islands parliament.

The education level of voters and candidates has a huge impact on the type and quality of leaders who get into parliament he said and if the educated Solomon Islanders studying and working overseas were given the opportunity to participate in national general elections, Solomon Islands would see a great difference.