THE Honiara City Council (HCC) awaits the Home Affairs Minister for swearing in of new Councilors (Cr) and electing the new city mayor says City Clerk Justus Denni.
The Council administration is looking at Councilors taking Oath of Allegiance on Monday 13th of May and the election of the City Mayor will be on Wednesday 15th May 2024.
He highlighted that since the election of Honiara City (HCC) Councilors (Cr) on the 17th of April 2024, and the gazetting of official results on the 30th of April 2024, Councilors are still to take their oath of Allegiance and elect the new City Mayor.
“The Council administration is waiting for the new Minister of Home Affairs to take office and appoint four (4) Councilors as required under section 5 (1) (b) of the Honiara City Act 1999,” the City Clerk explained.
He said the Council administration would also have to await the election of a new Premier of the Council Guadalcanal Province. The Premier of Guadalcanal Province is an ex officio member of the Council under section 5 (1) (d) of the Honiara City Act.
According to section 5 of the Honiara City Act 1999, membership of the City Council shall consist of
(a) Twelve elected members
(b) Four members to be appointed by the Minister provided one of the members shall be from Guadalcanal.
(c) Members of Parliament who represent Honiara City
(d) Premier of Guadalcanal Province
“We already have 12 elected members and 3 members of Parliament. Now we are waiting for the Minister of Home Affairs to appoint 4 Councilors and the new Premier of Guadalcanal Province,” he said.
Clerk Denni uttered that the Minister of Home Affairs has been sworn in and taken up office, so we hope 4 Councilors appointed by this coming Friday 10th of May 2024.
Meanwhile, Guadalcanal Province is electing its new Premier on Friday the 10th of May therefore, we should have the new Premier as an ex officio member available as well.
He expressed the Council administration has obtained legal advice from the Attorney Generals Chambers on the delay in appointing 4 Councilors and electing a mayor as we have passed the time frame specified in the Honiara City Act 1999. We are currently in a transition period and complying with the advice from the Attorney Generals Chambers.
The Council administration regrets the delays, but the situation is beyond our control he stated.
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