Konivaro calls for strengthening of provincial governments

CLERK of Parliament Vela Konivaro says it is unfortunate that provincial governments are left on their own devices in the management of their legislative powers.
He called for more interaction, including on-the-job-training, between provincial assemblies and Parliament.
He made the remarks when closing three weeks of training at Parliament for the clerks of the Gulf and Eastern Highlands provincial assemblies.
He said provincial governments were not only given administrative powers but legislative powers as well and it stood to reason that Parliament should be the body to assist, build and strengthen capacities of provincial assemblies through training of assembly clerks in such things as procedures and chamber management.
“It’s very important for the development of parliamentary democracy in the country. The democratic system of government allows for Parliament and the creation of other parliaments based on the powers which establish provincial governments.
“A lot of laws were made by provincial governments under the old Organic Law and they came through the national system for safe keeping.”
He said this did not seem to be the case under the current Organic Law on Provincial and Local-Level Governments adding that provincial governments should not be blamed for this but on the mechanisms of power sharing under the current Organic Law.
Konivaro described the training of the two provincial assembly clerks as a good step and that it spoke of the determination to make their respective assemblies workable.
“We need to strengthen capacities (of provincial assemblies) and have processes in place so that provincial governments do play a role in provincial assemblies,” he said.
“Not all powers are vested with the national government. These are shared with provinces”
Gulf provincial assembly clerk Kelly-Anne Evara said the training was intensive and fruitful.
She said as a result, many issues of procedures and chamber management in their assemblies would now be addressed correctly.