THE lack of proper consultation was debated in parliament yesterday.

During the debate, leader of Opposition, Hon Jeremiah Manele, said there appears to be inadequate consultations during preparation and formulation of the Bill.

As indicated in the Bills Committee report, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, one of the designated Scientific Authorities in the Bill, was not part of the consultations.

The Nature Conservancy, a key stakeholder in environment and conservation issues in Solomon Islands, was also not consulted.

Hon Jeremiah Manele said they cannot underestimate the importance of wider consultations including the benefit of taking advantage of all available knowledge and expertise.

He believes wider consultations also enhance a greater sense of participation and ownerships of the bill and could translate into its effective implementation by all relevant stakeholders.

Hon Jeremiah Manele said inadequate consultations can undermine the integrity of the consultation process and the legislation they bring to the parliament house.

Therefore, as per recommendation two of the bills committee, there is a need for the ministry of environment, climate change, disaster management and meteorology to undertake further legislative review with the specified scientific authorities in the bill to sort out any efficiencies of the act.

He said he would not be surprised if the deficiencies in the current act which this amendment bill aims to address were a result of insufficient consultations at that time.