The National Parliament of Solomon Islands yesterday convened a debriefing session at the Parliament Conference Room to hear firsthand from staff who recently participated in conferences and parliamentary engagements abroad.
According to the Acting Deputy Clerk, Mr. Boniface Supa, this initiative is an important step for Parliament to gather insights and feedback from staff who have attended regional and international engagements such as the Floating Budget Office (FBO) and other parliamentary activities.
Mr. Supa emphasised that these debriefings help Parliament reflect on key learnings and identify practical ways to adapt new ideas within the local context—particularly in strengthening oversight functions, refining budget processes, and supporting the ongoing review of the Standing Orders.
He also highlighted that such sessions ensure knowledge-sharing across the institution, especially for staff who may not have the opportunity to participate directly in overseas conferences or exchanges. This approach allows Parliament to learn from the experiences and best practices of other jurisdictions.
Staff who shared their experiences today included Ms. Salome Pilumate from the Committee Secretariat, who attended the Floating Budget Office programme in Tonga from 12–28 May 2025—a three-week programme that provided insights into Tonga’s budget processes. Mr. Patrick Wilson (Research Officer) and Ms. Angelina Nunumae (Committee Secretariat) also presented on their recent participation in New Zealand’s Estimates Scrutiny Week from 16–19 June 2025, where they accompanied Hon.
Lazarus Rina (Chairman, Public Expenditure Committee) and Hon. George Temahua to observe select committee hearings examining the 2025 Budget Estimates. In addition, Ms. Florida Tamu and Ms. Rachael Viola from the Library, Research, and ICT Department reported on their recent engagement in the innovative FBO programme held in Fiji.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Jefferson Hallu, also joined the session via Zoom from Nauru, where he is attending the POCC, along with UNDP Project Analyst Mr. Gregory Fineaganofo, who joined from the UNDP Honiara Office.
The National Parliament remains committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning, capacity building, and collaboration, ensuring that insights gained abroad translate into strengthened parliamentary processes and better service to the people of Solomon Islands.
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