By Jack Lapauve Jnr – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The disembarking of financial and administrative powers to Provincial Government is unconstitutional.
Shadow Attorney General and Justice Minister, Kerenga Kua, says the Government has not tabled a submission on the floor of Parliament to cater for changes in the Organic Law.
With a number of Provinces listed to have greater autonomy, MP Kua describes the move as unconstitutional.
The Shadow AG says Parliament has not met for a debate to grant financial and administrative powers to Provincial Governments.
East New Britain, New Ireland and Enga are the Provinces on the greater autonomy path, with Enga the latest to see the drawing down of powers to the Provincial Administration.
Kua says the Government has not clearly set criteria or benchmarks for Provinces to gain autonomy.
The former Attorney General, now Shadow Minister, warned Provincial Governments to understand that by law, the ruling Government has no power to arbitrarily handpick provinces for autonomy.
He called on the Ombudsman Commission to challenge the matter as the rightful state agency.
Concluding his argument, MP Kua recommended the government considers reintroducing the abolished Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government powers.
New Ireland will be the next province to have financial and administrative powers handed over by the National Government.
