Lawyer slams bid to stop formation of Jiwaka

By GIBSON TORASO
UPNG Journalism Student
FORMER Western Highlands chief legal officer, Kaunga Aipe, has criticised the Anglimp local level government council for trying to stop the formation of Jiwaka province.
The Anglimp LLG council is seeking a restraining order against the Electoral Boundaries Commission to stop it approving the creation of Jiwaka province.
Kaunga said while the people of the Jiwaka region were happy to have their own province, “a minority group of people is trying to jeopardise the process”.
“It is the wish of the people to separate from Western Highlands – it is not the wish for only one or two leaders,” he said.
“The matter can only be taken to court only after parliament makes its decision,” Kaunga said.
The Anglimp LLG council last Wednesday sought a National Court summons to restrain the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Constitutional Matters, Wake Goi, from tabling the electoral boundaries commission report, which sets out the Jiwaka provincial boundaries until section 37 and 38 of the enabling legislation had been complied with.
Respondents in the case are Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen, who is the chairman of the Electoral Boundaries Commission, the state and Goi.
The Anglimp LLG council wants parliament to postpone the creation of Jiwaka province until 2013 because of disputes among councillors on the proposed provincial boundary.
It is asking the court to stay the proposed law for creation of the province.