A study visit to Tynwald by a delegation from the National Parliament of Solomon Islands (NPSI) has been hailed ‘a non-stop learning trip’ by Hon Catherine Nori MP.

Mrs Nori, together with Hon Choy Lin Yim Douglas MP, Minister of Culture and Tourism, and Mr Jefferson Hallu, Clerk to Parliament were accompanied by Vatina Devesi, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) Country Director in Solomon Islands.

The WFD began working with the NPSI in 2022 in partnership with the British High Commission in Solomon Islands and facilitated the delegation’s four-day visit from January 27 to January 30, 2025, the programme for which was arranged by the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office.

Since 2022 the WFD has facilitated two capacity-building visits to NPSI by Tynwald Research and Scrutiny Support Manager Francisca Gale and a study visit to Tynwald by NPSI officers. Having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NPSI in December 2023, the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office has also been delivering a programme of bespoke online officer-level workshops to support NPSI’s ambition to establish a long-term mutually beneficial parliamentary partnership with the Isle of Man.

Mrs Nori said: ‘Solomon Islands, with its population of around 800,000, has a unicameral parliament, so it was very interesting to visit the Isle of Man with its population of around 85,000 but which has a tricameral parliament. Having had the opportunity to observe Tynwald sittings we can see the advantages of a system with more than one chamber; every Member was clearly involved in the decision-making progress and able to express their views. It seemed to us that issues were considered by “all minds” so made for better representation of the electorate.’

Mr Hallu added: ‘I, too, observed the sittings and found it interesting how a parliamentary system with more than one chamber could help to strengthen the scrutiny process. Also, while sitting in the committee sessions, I noted how the proceedings were less formal than in Solomon Islands, and I felt this allowed for franker exchanges.’

Among the committee sessions the delegation observed was a private meeting of the Public Accounts Committee. Mrs Nori said: ‘I am a member of the NPSI Public Accounts Committee which, because it’s all about money, gets live coverage.’

The programme also provided opportunities for informal discussions with Tynwald Members about how they go about their daily lives as Members of parliament, combining constituency work with parliamentary duties and government roles.

In addition to serving as an MP, Mrs Nori is Deputy Head of Caucus and Deputy Speaker. She is the first woman to have held the roles, while Mrs Douglas is the first woman to be appointed Minister of Culture and Tourism. They are currently two of only three women serving in the 50-Member parliament.  Reflecting on the strong female representation in Tynwald, Mrs Douglas said: ‘We believe women in parliament can bring a different perspective to proceedings. In Solomon Islands, however, the culture tends to be that men go out to work and women are the homemakers, so for a woman serving in parliament it can be difficult to achieve a good work/life balance.’

Concluding, Mrs Nori said: ‘There is much we shall take away from our visit, but what stood out for us was how Tynwald operates to a set calendar, which allows for a level of structure that we do not enjoy in Solomon Islands. With our population spread out over so many islands, to be able to work to a planned schedule of sessions would make life much easier for Members. The Isle of Man may have a much smaller population than Solomon Islands but in terms of parliamentary development it has much to offer.’

Pictured above - The Speaker of the House of Keys the Hon Juan Watterson SHK with, left to right, Vatina Devesi WFD Country Director, Hon Catherine Nori MP, Hon Choy Lin Yim Douglas MP and NPSI Clerk Jefferson Hallu

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For further information contact:

Office of the Clerk of Tynwald
Legislative Buildings
Douglas
IM1 3PW
Tel: 01624 685500
enquiries@tynwald.org.im