Province needs to call quarterly assembly: MP

 By URSULA-JANE BOGG 

EASTERN Highlands needs to have a provincial assembly every three months as stipulated in the provincial rules, Henganofi MP Robert Atiyafa says.

He said the provincial assembly was supposed to be held quarterly for budget issues but that was not the case. 

“We only had one provincial assembly called in Dec 2014 and one last year for budget sitting,” the Police Minister said. “But that was a quick one called in late and was rushed just to get the budget through,” Atiyafa said.

He said Governor Julie Soso needed to call a provincial assembly to get the provincial members together to discuss provincial issues and matters.

He said whatever political differences they had, should be settled as political leaders for the good of the people and the province. “This could be a good opportunity to use to get the province together,” Atiyafa said.

Meanwhile, he said Soso had to come clear with the motive behind the frequent changes in the provincial administration – why they had five changes in the last 12 months.

“The people of Eastern Highlands want to know why there have been frequent changes in the provincial administration,” Atiyafa said.

He said he had told Soso that the public servants where the ones who could promote or demote leadership and frequent alterations with provincial advisers would not change that.

“Public servants are here to stay and they will either break or they can promote leadership,” Atiyafa said.