Prime Minister: Seats will be reserved for women

By Rayon Lakingu – EMTV News, Port Moresby

“Women in the country will now have some seats in parliament reserved for them in the next national elections,” Prime Minister Peter O’Neill made this announcement when giving his keynote address at the National Women’s Day celebrations.

He said discussions and surveys are still underway to have at least four women representative of each region in Parliament by 2022.

This call is to ensure women have an equal say on the development of the country. The seats for the women will be appointed by the Electoral Commission to represent each region. And for them to be appointed, they must be a candidate in the National Elections and must perform well in the election.

“When we go through the elections and the regional basis which selects four of the best performing candidates (of women), if there have been no women elected to parliament,” Prime Minister O’Neill said.

Prime Minister O’Neil added that this is a good call because it will have balance in leadership at the national level. He said, women have been participating in leadership roles at the districts and provincial levels, and they must have a fair say also at the National Level.

“When you look at some of the smaller Pacific Island countries, you’ll look at some of the women participation at those parliaments – they have made special provisions to ensure that this happens in their parliament. Why is it so difficult in Papua New Guinea?” remarked the Prime Minister.

Department of Justice and Attorney General Secretary Dr. Eric Kwa, in supporting the prime minister said, a constitution amendment was passed in 2011 to create 22 seats for women. He explained that, due to recent changes in the constitution, discussions are still underway, to determine the number of seats to be preserved for women.

Meanwhile, teams from the Constitution and Law Reform Commission are traveling around the country to conduct surveys on this issue and to collect views from the public.

Secretary Kwa said women will have representatives in parliament once all reports from the Constitution and Law Reform Commission are presented and approved by the Parliament.