By HARLINE JOKU
A CONSTITUTIONAL dilemma is imminent as provincial assemblies attempt to convene their first meetings of the year in the absence of local level government (LLG) presidents.
Manus provincial assembly was the first to experience such a situation when it tried to convene a sitting or Lapan (assembly) on Tuesday – the first for the year.
Manus Governor Michael Sapau and Manus Open MP and Minister for Inter-Government Relations Job Pomat found they were the only two elected members present at the first meeting.
According to a source, local level government presidents were unable to attend the assembly because the National Parliament had nullified their membership by passing the amended law to the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments last year.
Governor Sapau said in a statement yesterday that the amended law had resulted in him and the Minister for Inter-Government Relations looking like dictators.
He said that the people of Manus were anxious to know how the province would be governed since Parliament last year amended sections of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments, which effectively nullified the membership of the LLG presidents as assembly members.
Mr Sapau said that in the absence of the provincial assembly and provincial executive council, the provincial government was handicapped to act on issues concerning the welfare of the people.
He added that the dilemma resulted in Mr Pomat and himself appointing eight other members to form a 10-member provincial assembly to uphold democracy.
Mr Sapau said it was the first time ever in the political history of Manus provincial government that the assembly had to be arranged in that manner.
“We saw the need for power-sharing hence we went ahead with the appointments so that democracy is alive in Manus province,” Mr Sapau said.
He also appointed a caretaker cabinet.
He said the deputy governor’s post would be decided in a secret ballot by assembly members in the full sitting of the Lapan this week.