Millions paid unnecessarily, says Dr Kwa

 CONSULTANTS are being paid millions of kina for work that can be done free by the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC), its secretary Dr Eric Kwa says. 

Speaking at the induction of CLRC commissioners at the Kokoda Trail Motel outside Port Moresby last Saturday, Kwa said consultants were charging between K200,000 and K500,000 for their services and the bill from law firms to review an act ran into the millions of kina. 

“That (work) would have been done for free by the commission,” Kwa said.

“By law, the commission’s main responsibility is to review and propose laws and it should not be done by any other person or persons.”

Kwa said the CLRC Act of 2004 should be amended to make it mandatory for all law reviews be done by the commission. 

“There must also be a provision for CLRC to be the vetting authority of all proposed legislation,” he said. 

This would ensure the systematic and comprehensive development of the country’s laws and the structuring of contemporary Papua New Guinean society through the laws.

“The government established the commission for that sole purpose and yet government institutions and agencies continue to engage private consultants and law firms, costing the country millions,” Kwa said..

“A lot of the government agencies do not know what the commission is doing and they must be told of the commission’s responsibilities.”

Kwa suggested that the Justice Department and attorney-general could advise the government on legal matters, the First Legislative Council draft the laws and Parliament pass the laws. 

However, reviewing of the proposed laws should be done by the commission before proceeding to the National Executive Council and then Parliament.