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Hou questions training and kastom aspect

‘Adoption (Amendment) Bill Enquiry’

 

Small Malaita MP, Hon. Rick Hou

Small Malaita MP, Hon. Rick Hou

MEMBER for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Hou has questioned the necessary training needed to cater for the amendments of the existing Adoption Act and related kastom aspects of children in the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016.

Hon Hou, who too is the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), is also a member of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) that held enquiries into the three bills last week that were endorsed and put on notice by the Speaker of Parliament.

The Bills are the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016, the Lands Surveyors Bill 2016 and the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill 2016.

Hou questioned the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs’ Legal Policy Advisor, Pamela Wilde, on the timeframe being considered for the training of staff to cater for bodies that may be established to cater for the amendments of the existing Adoption Act.

He also questioned the roles of the biological parents of the child up for adoption and made reference to local kastom of the child not only belonging to his or her biological parents, but to a tribe as well.

He questioned if the amendments of the Act had any provisions to cater for his queries.

Pamela Wilde told the Bills and Legislation Committee that in terms of training and awareness needed including consultations, it would be ‘minimal costs’ and that the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs would be able to do them within their budget.

She added that no extra resources would be needed apart from possible requirements by applicant countries, presumably fees, but affirmed would still make little difference.

The Legal Policy Advisor confirmed to the BLC that the biological parents play a significant role to the process of intercountry adoption, however, there is no reference or provisions in the current Act that cater for traditional (kastom) aspects.

Procedures set out in the current Act make reference to the Courts that take into account what is in the best interest of the child.

This means, if the Court is able to identify relatives who are capable or taking care of the child, then as parties to the issue of adoption, the court always has the final say having this of paramount consideration.

Pamela Wilde adds that some provisions regarding the welfare of children are also covered in the Child and Welfare legislation that correlates with the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016.