Wednesday 15 May 2024
Prime Minister James Marape receiving a Final Report on the Review of PNG’s System of Government from Deputy Chairperson of CLRC, Ms Martha Kokiva and her team, yesterday (14 May). (photo: PM’s Media).
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has commended the Papua New Guinea Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC), under the leadership of Chairman Hon. Saki Soloma, for the comprehensive presentation of the Final Report on the Review of the Form and System of Government of PNG.
This pivotal document focuses on the public’s desire for direct election of the Prime Minister.
Upon receiving the report at Sir Manasupe House, Prime Minister Marape recognised the exhaustive efforts of the CLRC, which involved consultations across all provinces to collect the views of citizens through various methodologies, successfully completing the process within the allocated timeframe.
“I commend the CLRC for this report, which I initiated in 2022. It provides insight into the public’s perspective on our government systems and processes.
“This government has empowered our citizens to voice their opinions on how their Prime Minister should be elected, and on improvements to our parliamentary processes for the betterment of our nation as we approach our 50th year of independence on September 16, 2025,” stated Prime Minister Marape.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of stable leadership, reflecting on the country’s political history.
“From 1975 to 2002, our country experienced significant political instability with 12 terms and six different Prime Ministers.
“This instability hampered our economic growth. However, from 2002 to today, we’ve seen only three Prime Ministers, which correlates with notable stability and economic growth,” he remarked.
Deputy Chairperson Martha Kokiva and her team, on behalf of the CLRC, outlined that the report covered four key themes: System of Government, Parliamentary System, Head of State, and Election of the Prime Minister.
Key recommendations include transitioning from a three-tier to a two-tier system of government, moving from a Constitutional Monarchy to a Non-Executive President, and allowing the populace to directly elect the Prime Minister through the political party with the majority of elected MPs, who would then be formally appointed by the Head of State.
The report also addresses concerns regarding political stability and the effectiveness of service delivery nationwide.
The event was attended by notable figures including Minister for Justice and Attorney General Hon. Pila Niningi, Minister for Defence Hon. Dr. Billy Joseph, CLRC Secretary Dr. Mange Matui, and other legal representatives.