Cabinet approves amendment

THE National Executive Council (NEC) yesterday approved the constitutional amendment that will give constitutional basis to the current Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments to be repealed and replaced with the proposed law on decentralisation, Prime Minister James Marape says.
Marape said a “gradative decentralisation” system would be adopted where diversity and differences in status of development in each province and district would be reflected.
“It takes into account that not one size fits all but also allows for opportunity to be given to all,” he said.
“The constitutional amendment will now allow for provincial governments gradative decentralised governments and integrated governments.
“It also provides for municipal entities like district councils, cities, provincial and district towns which are best fit for the purpose of organisation towards improved communities, quality of life and inclusive growth. It has taken seven years to now for consultations with all stakeholders to ensure the form of decentralisation suited to achieving greater representation, democratisation, citizen participation and inclusive growth.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven said consultation proved that the current system of Government where Waigani had almost all the powers had not worked over the years.
“The amendment to the organic law should be ready for first reading in the November Parliament sitting,” Steven said.
“If Parliament passes this law, it will change the way the Government is operating because it will lay foundations for the reforms that (Marape) has announced in terms of resource ownership and sharing, power-sharing and empowering our provinces and lower levels of governments.