LAWS OF SOLOMON ISLANDS

[1996 EDITION]

CHAPTER 151

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

[5th May 1937]

4 of 1937
13 of 1955
1 of 1960
15 of 1964
4 of 1968
2 of 1977
4 of 1978
LN 46A of 1978
2 of 1982
LN 13 of 1983
LN 116 of 1986

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Public Holidays Act.

Certain days to be holidays
4 of 1968, Sched
LN 46A of 1978
2 of 1982, s. 2

2.—(1) The several days in the Schedule to this Act mentioned (hereinafter called "public holidays") shall be kept as holidays in all public offices in Solomon Islands:

Provided that if any public holiday falls on a Sunday the Monday next following shall be a public holiday unless otherwise ordered by the Minister by notice.

(2) When the twenty-sixth day of December falls on a Monday the day following shall be a public holiday.

Bills due on a public holiday to be payable on day next following

3.—(1) All bills of exchange and promissory notes which are due and payable on any such public holiday shall be payable, and, in case of non-payment, may be noted and protested on the day next following such public holiday, and any such noting and protest shall be as valid as if made on the day on which the bill or note was made due and payable.

(2) For all the purposes of this Act the day next following a public holiday shall mean the next following day on which a bill of exchange may lawfully be noted or protested.
15 of 1964, s. 3

Notice of dishonour, presentment or acceptance on day next following

4. When the day on which any notice of dishonour of an unpaid bill of exchange or promissory note should be given, or a bill of exchange or promissory note should be presented or received for acceptance, or accepted or forwarded to any referee or referees is a public holiday such notice of dishonour shall be given, and such bill of exchange or promissory note shall be presented, received, accepted or forwarded on the day next following such public holiday.

Payments due on public holidays

5. No person shall be compellable to make any payment or do any act upon a public holiday which he would not be compellable to make or do on a Sunday; and the obligation to make such payment or do such act shall apply to the day next following such public holiday, and the making of such payment or doing of such act on such day next following shall be equivalent to payment of the money or performance of the act on the public holiday.

Appointment of special public holidays
15 of 1964, s. 4
LN 46A of 1978
2 of 1982, s. 2

6. The Minister may, by notice published in such manner as he thinks fit, appoint a special day or any part of a day to be kept as a holiday in all public offices in Solomon Islands, or in any part thereof, or in any island or province, and every day so appointed shall be deemed to be a public holiday for all the purposes of this Act.

Power of Minister to amend the Schedule
2 of 1982, s. 3

7. The Minister may by order amend the Schedule to this Act.

Right to open public offices on holidays
15 of 1964, s. 5

8. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act the head of any Government department may open the offices and works thereof and call upon all or any persons employed in such department to perform such of their duties on any public holiday as to such head of department may seem fit.

Exclusion of section 62 of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act
2 of 1982, s. 4

9. Section 62 of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act (Parliamentary procedure) shall not apply to subsidiary legislation made under this Act, except that Orders made under section 7 shall be laid before Parliament before they come into effect.

SCHEDULE
1 of 1960, s. 3
15 of 1964, s. 6
4 of 1978, s. 2
LN 13/1983
LN 116/86

The first day of January
Good Friday
The day after Good Friday
Easter Monday
Whit Monday
The day appointed for the celebration of the Anniversary of the Birthday of the Sovereign.
Independence Day — 7th July.
Christmas Day
The twenty-sixth day of December
(National Day of Thanksgiving)

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(Subsidiary Legislation made under this Act has had effect and is now spent.)