| Business |
Ministers, governors and the polls
FOLLOWING the elections, the national
focus swings towards those issues that deserve early priority in
the life of our new Parliament.
Last week we discussed the issue of independents and their role
in future elections. This morning we target another complex and
contentious issue, and one that will shortly attract
considerable media attention.
We’re referring to the outcome of the elections of regional
members of the House.
Existing provisions state that a winning regional seat candidate
becomes the governor of the province concerned.
But there is one alternative.
Should the successful candidate be offered a ministry by the
incoming government, he is faced with a choice. Will the newly
elected member become the provincial governor, or accept the
offer of a ministry?
For those who find themselves in that situation, there is much
to consider and decide and it may be that neither choice offers
the perfect solution.
If the new member is closely identified with the bulk of the
people within the regional electorate and feels an over-riding
commitment to the province, there may be little doubt that the
governor’s position will be the right choice.
But on the other hand, the incoming regional member may have
professional or career skills that strongly recommend him for a
particular portfolio. Medical doctors may be well suited to the
health ministry, for example; a member with a strong record of
curriculum development and educational administration may be an
obvious choice for the education portfolio.
The crux of the issue is the perceptions held by those who voted
for the winning regional candidate. If they believed they were
electing a governor for their province, then a decision by the
successful candidate to accept a ministry may lead to marked
discontent within the regional electorate.
Nobody would doubt the impact upon PNG of former Madang regional
member Sir Peter Barter.
As minister for Health for the second time and as the minister
responsible for the Office of Bougainville Affairs, Sir Peter
has made a distinguished contribution to his people and his
country. Yet many of his electors were disappointed by his
decision to accept those heavy national responsibilities rather
than take up the role of Madang governor.
Some felt cheated and even disenfranchised.
If a regional member accepts a national portfolio, then he
cannot be governor of his province.
In that event, an alternative governor will be decided by the
remaining elected members within the province; for example, in
the case of Sir Peter, the then Member for Rai Coast Open, James
Yali was chosen.
The point is that under these circumstances the people no longer
directly choose their governor and the final choice may or may
not reflect their wishes.
We know that the regional seats have been slated for abolition
for some time. Many observers had expected them to disappear by
the 2007 elections.
But they have again featured in the poll and will now be with us
for a further five years.
Should a decision be taken to further extend the life of these
seats, the need for a better method of electing regional members
is obvious and pressing.
We’re supportive of an initiative put forward before Election
2007.
Had it been adopted, we would now have a parliament with 20
women members; that would have started the equal representation
ball rolling for the mute half of our popula-tion, the women of
PNG.
The suggestion was that the regional seats be restricted to the
nomination of women candidates. Then either the whole electorate
could vote for the woman thought best suited to the position, or
possibly voting for the seat could be restricted to female
constituents.
Whether or not that initiative gets off the ground, there
remains the issue of more properly organising the vote for the
regional seats throughout PNG.
Our people have a healthy and indeed admirable regard for the
PNG Constitution.
Suggested changes to that mama lo are often viewed with some
suspicion and the Constitution has achieved iconic if not
legendary status.
That should not mean that necessary amendments or additions
reflective of our 32 years journey as an independent nation
cannot now be made.
 
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