Parliament recalled

National, Normal
Source:

ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE Government is recalling Parliament earlier than November.
Parliament will sit on Oct 20 to deal with pressing issues such as the dysentery and cholera out-break and the declaration of a state of emergency, and to pass legislations for the creation of transitional authority for the new Hela and Jiwaka provinces.
Another source said it was being recalled earlier to effect the National Strategic Plan, which is being mulled over by advisers to the Prime Minister.
The National Executive Council has made the decision to recall Parliament and that has been conveyed to the Office of Speaker and Clerk of Parliament to make travel arrangements for MPs for the one-week session.
The Office of the Prime Minister confirmed that the early recall of Parliament was to clear various legislation related to next month’s sitting of Parliament.
The Prime Minister’s Office said this would clear the way for Parliament to focus more on the 2010 Budget in next month’s session.
The Clerk of Parliament confirmed that they have received the National Executive Council’s advice for Parliament to be recalled on Oct 20.
Parliament was adjourned in July, amidst threats of a vote of no-confidence by the Opposition, to Nov 25.
A source from Parliament said the two pressing issues that needed immediate Parliament attention was to put in place interim administration for the Hela and Jiwaka provinces.
The cholera outbreak in some of the remotest parts of the country of Morobe and Gulf provinces has claimed hundreds of victims and the Government wanted to address this on the floor of Parliament.
Other major legislations such as the bill to have women representation in Parliament and the bill to increase cabinet size by four ministries may also be brought in with this opportunity.
Minister for Provincial Affairs Job Pomat has said the Somare-Temu Government planned to introduce legislations that would create two statutory authorities – one for Hela and another for Jiwaka.
They will be called the Hela Transitional Authority and Jiwaka Transitional Authority.
The role of the authorities would be to commence preparations for the new provincial administration including securing land and a building for the new provincial capital, securing assets and infrastructure necessary for the new administration and in consultation with the Department of Personnel Management develop a staffing structure for the new provinces.