Speaker is entitled to make changes

 SPEAKER of Parliament Theo Zurenuoc has received quite a bit of flak lately from the media and sectors of the community over his plans to reform, restore and modernise Parliament House in Waigani.

While his critics have bran­ded Zurenuoc a cultural terrorist, there are others who support his push to change the haus tambaran (house of spirits) image that Parliament has portray­ed since it was opened by Prince Charles on Oct 7, 1984.

Zurenuoc, the young Finschhafen MP who was appointed speaker after the general election in June last year, makes no bones about inheriting a house that had lost its “dignity, integrity, respect and reverence”.

Amid heavy criticism, he called a news conference on Monday to explain that Parliament had become a house “riddled with rotten administrative systems and processes that urgently needed reformation, restoration and modernisation”.

But it was not his decision alone to initiate and implement the changes, which includes the removal of the cultural totem pole in the grand hall of Parliament House. 

The decision was made collectively by the Parliamentary House Committee, which comprises himself, Gulf Governor Havila Kavo, Morobe Governor Kelly Na­ru. Mul-Baiyer MP Koi Trape and Tambul-Nebilyer MP Benjamin Poponawa.

The removal of the totem pole is in line with a covenant made by Sir Michael Somare when he was prime minister. The totem pole will be replaced with a pole symbolising national unity.

Zurenuoc is adamant that the people’s house should be­come just that. “We want to make it a place where people and school children can come and learn,” he said.

He again defended his com­mittee’s plans for change in a four-page advertisement in The National yesterday.

“Since Parliament stands as a symbol of collective wis­dom and the pinnacle of political decision-making in which noble dreams of great men and women have been, and will continue to be, translated into reality through legislation that will transcend to the executive, judiciary and the rest of society, it needed the reformation, restoration and modernisation to be undertaken as a project of national unity,” he said in the advertisement.

Zurenuoc comes from a deeply political and religious family whose members have played significant roles in nation-building. He and Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc are maintaining the family’s legacy.

It seems he will not be swayed by his critics and he has even refused to meet with the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches to discuss the removal of the cultural objects from Parliament House. It’s not necessary, he says.

One of his critics is a for­mer speaker and fellow Morobe leader Timothy Bon­ga, who was reported to be outraged by Zurenuoc’s “cleansing and destruction” of intricate carvings in Parliament House.

Bonga’s call for Zurenuoc’s removal is understandable as he was the first speaker when the new Parliament House was opened. The former Nawaeb MP has sentimental attachments to the house of spirits but putting the speaker’s head on the chopping block is illogical as it was a collective decision by the parliamentary committee.

Zurenuoc has shown true grit in defending his committee’s plans to make Parliament House more user-friendly. Despite accusations that he is bent on cleansing and destroying cultural heritage in the people’s house, he believes the changes are for the better in the long run.

We agree that the winds of change must blow over Parliament House so that it becomes truly a house for the people. 

While our cultural heritage must be respected and treasured, the country must move with the times .

That is the simple message that Zurenuoc is trying to convey to the wider community amid calls by groups, including the other daily newspaper, for him to maintain the status quo.

As head of the legislature, the speaker should be entitled to make changes to improve the operations and outlook of Parliament House.

His explanation makes a lot of sense and should be seen in the bigger picture.