Sir Julius backs seats for women

NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan is supporting the proposal to have four regional seats reserved for women.
He said the laws should be amended to cater for the change.
“Parliament should make amendments to the laws such as the Organic Law on the Provincial Government and Local Level Government to create four regional seats for women,” he said.
“The four reserved seats should come into force in the 2022 general election.” He said that in New Ireland, through the administrative autonomy proposal, they had made amendments to that particular organic law. They propose that LLG vice-presidents must be reserved for women only.
“Build in a sunset clause for two years, and only then can they be allowed to contest,” he said.
“We are a matriarchal society, and that is very strong here in New Ireland.
“That is how the issue of women empowerment and leadership can be addressed,” he said.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had proposed that women who contested the general election would be considered for the reserved seat of each of the region.