The country should adopt a Federal system of government which includes the autonomous States because the Westminster system is not working for Papua New Guinea, says Namatanai MP and Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Walter Schnaubelt. He made this suggestion while addressing the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) consultative meeting in Namatanai town on Thursday, March 09. “I think we need to adopt a Federal and Provincial State system. I support that we the people vote for the Prime Minister but we must first address the immense shortfall of our electoral system and our census records. " “The electoral system needs to be improved. We can’t go into voting the prime minister when the electoral system is still the same where it has failed us over and over again. " “The best way to address this is to get the electoral system corrected by incorporating biometric system and update the common roll for it to be an effective tool to maintain the integrity of the voting process because the current process is failing us time and time again, " he said.
"Equally important our census record place an important role in updating the common roll so the country can fully appreciate where its population is for budgetary process and obviously eligibility of voters." "Get that system up and running first before we, the people vote for the prime minister. " “Political parties should be given authority to select a PM candidate with certain conditions and criteria attached by OLLIPAC. If we go back on the floor of parliament as part of the selection process of the PM candidate, you really are not changing the system. We must take it away from the lobby in the corridors of Waigani." “I support people voting the prime minister for a full five year term and also the prime minister appointing secretaries in each department. This effectively does two things, abolishes 18 months of VONC where the current system forces the prime minister, where 70 percent of his time on political consolidation and 30 percent on development needs. Secondly, I suggest we abolish all ministry portfolios because the prime minister’s secretaries can take up those responsibilities and we potential ministers become ordinary members of parliament (legislators), which allows us to focus on development aspirations for our respective districts and provinces thus avoiding the temptation of staying in Port Moresby for a definite period whilst being a Minister." Schnaubelt also mentioned the two tier parliament system where you have an upper and lower house and suggested that 22 provincial governors who will also act as Senators for the upper house while Prime Minister and all open members become the lower house. This would provide check and balance for any legislation and amended legislations. “I also suggest strongly that we have greater autonomy for all provinces. These are administrative and financial autonomy where the State government retains 70 to 90 percent of internal revenue and the balance is paid to the Federal government. Minister Schnaubelt also adds, the States need to look after their own affairs rather than going to Waigani all the time to seek funding; as it is another bottle neck to service delivery right down to the ward level. "Decentralise powers back to the States so that they can operate more efficiently," he said. "And some of the decentralised powers would be the State can run its own constabulary, State can issue own permits on Logging, fishing, mining etc. Allow the State to take charge because the current system is not working and it only incites animosity against those departments who issue permits to developers who are unbeknown to the landowners. Hence, the constant confrontation we hear and see on a regular basis." The CLRC Chairman Saki Soloma, CLRC Secretary Dr Mange Matui and team were appreciative of the comments and suggestions made by Minister Schnaubelt and would take it on board as part of the review on the system of government we have in PNG. The CLRC team is currently in New Ireland conducting consultative meetings and getting views of the rural people on the forms and system of government, focusing on the election of Prime Minister by the people. Picture Supplied: (L)Namatanai MP and Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Walter Schnaubelt, (R)CLRC Chairman Saki Soloma, Also read Comments are closed.
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