Microsoft Word - ndca256.rtf

LAWS OF SOLOMON ISLANDS

[1996 EDITION]

CHAPTER 148

NATIONAL DISASTER COUNCIL

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION
1. SHORT

TITLE

2. INTERPRETATION
3.

ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL

POWERS OF THE MINISTER

FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL

6. COUNCIL

MAY

ESTABLISH

ADVISORY COMMITTEES, GROUPS,

ETC

MINISTER TO ESTABLISH NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT
OFFICE

FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE

PROVINCIAL DISASTER COMMITTEES

10.

NATIONAL DISASTER PLAN

11.

PROVINCIAL DISASTER PLANS

12.

ORDER BY MINISTER

13.

COUNCIL TO ASSUME CONTROL IN TIME OF EMERGENCIES

14. POWERS

REQUISITION

15.

CHAIRMAN MAY ISSUE DIRECTIVES IN EMERGENCIES

16.

EXPENSES INCURRED DURING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

17.

NATIONAL DISASTER COUNCIL FUND

18.

INVESTMENT OF FUNDS

19. ACCOUNTS
20. AUDIT
21.

ACCOUNTS TO BE LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT

22. OFFENCES
23.

IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY

24. REGULATIONS

FIRST SCHEDULE
SECOND SCHEDULE

----------------------------------------

CHAPTER 148

NATIONAL DISASTER COUNCIL

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL DISASTER COUNCIL IN
SOLOMON ISLANDS AND CONFER CERTAIN POWERS UPON SUCH
COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH NATURAL DISASTERS

[30th April 1990]

18 of 1989

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the National Disaster Council Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

"agency" means a government or non-government agency;

"Chairman" means the Chairman of the National Disaster Council and
includes any person for the time being performing the functions of the
Chairman;

"Committee" means one or any of the Provincial Disaster Committees referred
to in section 9 (1);

"Council" means the National Disaster Council established under section 3;

"disaster" means the actual or imminent occurrence of any event which
endangers or threatens to endanger the safety or health of any community, or
persons, or which destroys, damages, threatens to destroy or damage, any
property or endanger or to cause loss of life in consequence of—

(a) a cyclone,

(b) a flood,

(c) an earthquake,

(d) a landslide,

(e) a volcanic eruption,

(f) a tsunami (seismic wave),

(g) a drought, or

(h) any other natural or man-made event,

but does not include civil disorder, industrial disputes or state of war;

"Government Agency" mean—

(a) any body constituted by or under any Act of Parliament for a public
purpose;

(b) any member or officer of such a body; or

(c) any person in the service of the Government of Solomon Islands;

"management office" mean the National Disaster management office
established by the Minister under section 7;

"Minister" means the Minister who for the time being is charged with
responsibility for matters relating to disaster;

"national disaster plan" mean the plan approved by the Government as the
national disaster plan for the time being;

"non-government agency" mean—

(a) any voluntary organisation; or

(b) any other person, other than a government agency;

"preparedness" means the identification of hazards, assessment of threats and
other preparatory measures taken in advance, which are necessary or deemed
to be necessary to deal with counter disaster measures;

"Provincial Government" has the meaning assigned to it by section 3 of the
Provincial Government Act;

Cap. 118

"provincial disaster plans" mean the provincial disaster plans referred to in
section 11;

"recovery" means the process by which a community is helped to return to its
normal level of functioning after a disaster;

"response" means the operations undertaken to combat a disaster and to
provide for immediate relief to people affected by the disaster;

"state of disaster" mean the existence of a state in Solomon Islands or any part
thereof which requires an order to be made by the Minister under section 12.

Establishment of Council

3. (1) There shall be established for the purposes of this Act, a body to be known as
the National Disaster Council (hereinafter referred to as "the Council") which shall be
a body corporate to which the provisions for Part VII of the Interpretation and General
Provisions Act [sic].

(2) The provisions of the First Schedule shall have effect with respect to the
constitution of the Council and otherwise in relation thereto.

First Schedule

Powers of the Minister

4. The Minister may after consultation with the Chairman, give the Council such
directions of a general character as to the policy to be followed by the Council in the
performance of its functions as appear to the Minister to be necessary, and the
Council shall give effect thereto.

Functions of the Council

5. The functions of the Council shall be—

(a) to provide and render advice to the Minister on all matters relating to
disaster;

(b) to approve and co-ordinate all activities necessary in regard to
preparedness, response, and recovery;

(c) to assume full and complete control in operations connected with disaster;
and

(d) to provide and render financial assistance to Committees.

Council may establish advisory Committees, groups, etc

6. (1) The Council may where it is of the opinion that it requires assistance in respect
of any technical matter, appoint such advisory Committees as it considers necessary.

(2) Where the occurrence of a disaster appears to be imminent or where a disaster
occurs, the Council may establish such control groups as it deems necessary for the
purpose of assisting it in disaster operations.

Minister to establish National Disaster Management Office

7. The Minister shall cause to be established in the Ministry charged with
responsibility for national disaster a National Disaster Management Office.

Functions of the office

8. The functions of the management office shall be—

(a) to be responsible to the Council in the administration of this Act, the
national disaster plan and other plans which relate to national disaster;

(b) to ensure that the national disaster plan and other plans referred to in
paragraph (a) are periodically reviewed and updated;

(c) to keep and maintain proper accounts and such registers as the Council
directs;

(d) to prepare the annual reports and other reports or bulletins as the Council
may direct;

(e) to ensure that the provinces are in a state of preparedness to execute the
provincial disaster plans, if the need to do so arises; and

(f) to perform any other functions that may be assigned to it by the Council.

Provincial Disaster Committees

9. (1) The Council shall establish Provincial Disaster Committees in each province for
the purpose of assisting it in administering this Act at provincial level.

(2) The provisions of the Second Schedule shall have effect as to the constitution of
the Committees and otherwise in relation thereto.

Second Schedule

(3) The Committees shall adhere to such directions it may receive from the Council
and be responsible for the administration of the provincial disaster plan.

National disaster plan

10. For the purpose of this Act, there shall be a national disaster plan approved by
Cabinet which shall as far as practicable—

(a) set out what action is to be taken to deal with disaster;

(b) cover the whole of Solomon Islands including its territorial waters;

(c) include provisions in regard to preparedness, response and recovery from
disaster; and

(d) include such other instructions as the Cabinet deems necessary in order to
meet national disasters.

Provincial disaster plans

11. The Council shall ensure that there is in respect of each province an approved
provincial disaster plan.

Order by Minister

12. (1) The Minister may at any time on the advice of the Council consider the
conditions in Solomon Islands or in any area and if satisfied that a state of disaster
exists, by Order declare the whole of Solomon Islands, or any part thereof, as the case
may be, to be in a state of disaster.

(2) Any Order made under subsection (1) may at any time be varied, altered, amended
or revoked by the Minister on the advice of the Council.

(3) The Council shall before advising the Minister to revoke an Order made under
subsection (1), satisfy itself that the circumstances which occasioned the making of
the Order no longer exists.

(4) Every Order made under this section shall—

(a) be broadcast over the radio so as to bring it to the notice of the general
public; and

(b) as soon as practicable be published in the Gazette.

Council to assume control in time of emergencies

13. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, where an Order under section
12 is made, the Council shall assume full and complete control of Solomon Islands as
a whole, or in any part thereof, as the case may be, and take whatever safety measures
it considers expedient in the public interest and for the protection of life and property.

(2) Upon the making of a declaration under section 12, the provisions of subsection
(1) shall come into force and shall unless otherwise revoked or varied under
subsection (2) of section 12 remain in force until such time as complete recovery is
made.

(3) During the continuance in force of an Order made under section 12, the Council
may in the execution of its disaster operations disregard any government
administrative procedure or public service rules to such extent as would be justifiable
in the circumstances.

(4) Any person who disregards or fails to comply with any order given or instructions
issued by the Council pursuant to subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and
liable to a fine of five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a period of three months.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising the Council to act in
defiance of or disregard directions issued by the Commissioner of Police.

Power of requisition

14. (1) During the continuance of an Order made under section 12, the Council may
where the circumstances of the situation reasonably justify, and in the public interest
requisition or take possession of any private vehicle, vessel or other property for the
purpose of dealing with the disaster situation.

(2) Where any private vehicle, vessel or other property is to be requisitioned or taken
possession of under subsection (1), the Council shall as far as practicable, furnish the
owner thereof with notice in writing specifying in sufficient detail the grounds upon
which such property is to be requisitioned or taken possession of.

(3) Where any vehicle, vessel or other property is requisitioned or taken possession of
pursuant to subsection (1), the owner or any person who has an interest in or right

over such vehicle, vessel or other property shall be paid reasonable compensation
within a reasonable period of time having due regard to all the relevant circumstances.

(4) In this section "private vehicle, vessel or other property" includes vehicles, vessels
or property owned by statutory authorities.

Chairman may issue directives in emergencies

15. (1) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed as preventing the Chairman
from issuing directives or taking any action without the approval of the Council, in
circumstances where such immediate emergency measures are necessary for the safe-
guarding of life and property or in the public interest.

(2) Any directives issued or action taken by the Chairman pursuant to subsection (1),
shall as soon as practicable be brought to the notice of the Council by the Chairman.

(3) Any directives issued or action taken by the Chairman pursuant to subsection (1)
may be ratified, varied or withdrawn by the Council in such manner as it deems fit.

Expenses incurred during emergency operation

16. Any expenses incurred by any Ministry or government agency in consequence of
any directives made in emergency operations, shall be recovered from Parliament.

National Disaster Council Fund

17. (1) For the purpose of this Act, there shall be established a fund called (the
National Disaster Council Fund) which shall be a Special Fund established under
section 100(2) of the Constitution.

(2) The funds of the Council shall comprise of—

(a) all moneys placed at the Council's disposition for the purposes of this Act
by Parliament;

(b) all moneys collected by way of donations, grants or contributions;

(c) all moneys received by the Council from the sale or disposal of any
property vested in or under its control; and

(d) all other moneys and other property which may in any manner become
payable to, or vested in the Council in respect of any matter incidental to its
functions.

Investment of funds

18. All moneys of the Council not required for immediate use shall be invested in
securities authorised under the provisions of any Act relating to trustees for the time
being in force.

Accounts

19. The Council shall keep proper accounts and other records in respect of its
operations and shall cause to be prepared a statement of accounts in respect of each
financial year.

Audit

20. The accounts of the Council shall be audited annually by the Auditor-General or
by such other persons on such terms and conditions as the Auditor-General may
impose.

Accounts to be laid before Parliament

21. (1) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, the Council shall
transmit to the Minister—

(a) a copy of its statement of accounts for such year;

(b) a copy of the report made thereon by the Auditor-General or such other
person as may be appointed under the provisions of section 20; and

(c) a report on the activities of the Council during such year.

(2) The Minister shall cause copies of the accounts and reports of the Council to be
laid before Parliament.

Offences

22. (1) It shall be an offence for any person—

(a) to obstruct or attempt to obstruct any officer in the execution of his duties
under this Act;

(b) to refuse to co-operate with any officer in a state of emergency;

(c) to refuse to give reasonable assistance to any person seriously affected by
disaster; or

(d) to give false information or refuse to give information in respect of a
disaster to any officer.

(2) Any person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable on
conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period of six
months.

(3) In this section "officer" includes any person acting on behalf of the Council.

Immunity from liability

23. No person engaged in any activity pursuant to directives issued under this Act
shall be personally liable for any act or default done or omitted in good faith in the
course of the performance of his duties.

Regulations

24. (1) The Minister may make regulations generally for the proper carrying out of the
provisions and purposes of this Act; and in particular, but without prejudice to the
generality of the foregoing, may make regulations—

(a) authorising the requisitioning or taking possession of any vehicle, vessel or
other property;

(b) providing guidelines or the procedure for payment of compensation to
persons affected by the deprivation of property;

(c) empowering the Council to make orders and issue directives for any of the
purposes for which such regulations may be made; and

(d) containing such other incidental and supplementary provisions as appear to
the Minister to be necessary or desirable for the purposes of such regulations.

(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) may be made to apply to Solomon Islands
as a whole or any part thereof.

(3) Any regulation made under this section or any rule or order made thereunder shall
have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith in any Act or law, and, to
the extent of the inconsistency, such Act or law shall have no effect so long as the
regulation, rule or order remains in force.

FIRST SCHEDULE

(Section 3)

1. The Council shall consist of—

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry charged with responsibility formatters
relating to disaster

Commissioner of Police

Secretary to Cabinet

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Relations

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Works and Public Utilities

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Posts and Communications

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Medical Services

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Provincial Government.

The following Permanent Secretaries shall be co-opted members—

(a) Public Service

(b) Immigration

(c) Labour

(d) Trade

(e) Commerce

(f) Industry

(g) Education

(h) Training

(i) Police

(j) Justice

(k) Natural Resources

(l) Economic Planning

(m) Agriculture

(n) Lands

Under Secretaries of the Ministries which cover—

(o) Health and Medical Services

(p) Transport

(q) Works

(r) Utilities

Other officials or representatives of the—

(s) Chief Information Officer

(t) Chief Marine Officer

(u) Chief Geologist

(v) Director, Solomon Islands Meteorological Service

(w) Chairman, Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce

(x) Manager, Solomon Islands Electricity Authority

(y) Manager, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation

(z) Manager, Solomon Islands Ports Authority

(aa) Secretary, Solomon Islands Red Cross

(bb) Clerk to the Honiara Town Council

(cc) Secretary, Solomon Islands Christian Association

(dd) Provincial Secretaries as Chairmen of Provincial Disaster Committees.

2. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry charged with responsibility for matters
relating to disaster shall be Chairman of the Council.

3. The Council may regulate its own proceedings.

4. Minutes in proper form of each meeting shall be kept.

5. (1) The Council may appoint such Committees as it may think fit and may delegate
to any such Committee the power and authority to carry out on its behalf such duties
as the Council may determine.

(2) The constitution of each Committee shall be determined by the Council.

6. There shall be paid from the funds of the Council to the Chairman and other
members of the Council such remuneration whether by way of honorarium, salary or
fees and such allowances as the Minister may determine.

7. The office of Chairman and member of the Council shall not be a public office for
the purpose of Chapter XIII of the Constitution.

SECOND SCHEDULE

(Section 9)

1. Provincial Disaster Committees shall as far as practicable comprise of—

The Provincial Secretary as Chairman; and

representatives of the—