Authority’s board composition illogical: Barker

The National National

THE Conservation and Environment Protection Authority’s (Cepa) board has a strange and seemingly illogical composition, Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker says.
Barker said the board’s composition, established by the Environment Act 2000, seemed to leave out environmental watchdogs and professionals, civil societies and lacked gender balance.
The membership of the Cepa board as specified in the Environment Act 2000 is as follows:

  • Finance department head or his nominee;
  • Health department head or his nominee;
  • Works department head or his nominee;
  • A member and an alternate member nominated by the PNG Chamber of Commerce;
  • A member and an alternate member nominated by Certified Practising Accountants PNG;
  • A member and an alternate member nominated by the Institution of Engineers of PNG;
  • A member and an alternate member nominated by PNG Institute of Management; and,
  • The Cepa managing director.

Barker said the composition of the board members was illogical and needed to be reviewed to get the right composition to best drive the authority.
“It’s certainly valuable to have some business and accounting/professional participation as affected interests and to help ensure standards and financial accountability,” Barker said.
“But you’d also expect to see some environmental watchdogs, civil society representatives, and gender balance in its participation to help ensure Cepa performs and is accountable to the country it’s meant to serve,” Barker said.
He said there was a need to review the Act.
Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Geoffrey Kama said one of his priorities was to put in place the Cepa board to provide strategic direction and advice for the authority.
Since Cepa transitioned from the then Environment and Conservation department to an authority in 2015, an interim board had been appointed.
Managing director Gunther Joku said the interim board was put in place to oversee the transition from department to authority.