Pacific

Solomons' leader advocates third tier of government to recognise village chiefs

20:11 pm on 16 November 2009

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister is promoting a third tier of Government - at community level.

Dr Derek Sikua say the role that traditional leadership has always played needs to be recognised.

He says the country's constitutional reform has shown that the community always had political and governmental structures and this should be recognised as the third tier of Government after the proposed federal and state governments.

But he says this is a matter for future state governments to sort out.