Fiji, Aug. 5 -- Solomon Islands Opposition Independent Group has clarified that its concerns regarding the Solomon Islands-United States Ship Rider Agreement are focused on parliamentary oversight and governance principles, rather than questioning the legal validity or operational benefits of the agreement.

The group welcomed the contributions of legal and policy experts Dr Transform Aqorau and Dr Joseph Foukona, saying their views had enriched the national discussion on the maritime cooperation arrangement.

In a statement, the Independent Group said its earlier position was not directed at the effectiveness of the Ship Rider Agreement itself, but rather the broader issue of how international treaties and agreements are considered and a...