Prime Minister James Marape and the Chair of the Constitutional & Law Reform Commission, Saki Soloma launched the official Review of Form and System of Government, the Election of the Prime Minister marking a very momentous occasion for the Constitutional & Law Reform Commission and the country as a whole as. Mr. Soloma stated that as the Chair of the CLRC, it is a great privilege to be part of a huge undertaking that the commission will be going through. He said after almost 50 years, it is time for a review to reflect on the current state and circumstances. “I am immensely honoured to lead this important review. This review is very significant. It is unlike all the other reviews we have previously undertook. It actually encompasses all the others. I thank the prime minister in supporting and acknowledging the significance of this review,” Saloma said. Importantly, the government through the review process is asking whether there should be an alternative form and system of government that will take the country forward after almost 50 years of independence. “The current review will also draw the issues, finding the recommendations of these past reviews and raise questions for the people to consider such as whether we should retain the current method of electing the prime minister or should the people vote for the Prime Minister directly,” he stated. Soloma advised that the CLRC will consult widely with citizens of the country, government departments, private institutions, relevant and international bodies other similar jurisdictions and experts in these areas to ascertain all relevant information and analyse and advise the government on all appropriate reforms if any. The Chair further added that they will be producing a report and review that will reflect of the views and practical reality of the people. Whilst the conversation of the Prime Ministers election has taken the forefront of the review, Prime Minister James Marape has also highlighted that this must not be the only issue to be put under the microscope. He believes the 3 arms of government and their structures must also be looked at and reviewed. He adds that today there is a convoluted relationship between all arms of government and need to be looked at. “Separation of the Executive and legislative needs to take place so the executive is functional but with accountability to the nation,” Marape said. The PM asserted that their independence and separation must be augmented and made conducive to function to the best of their ability. Basing his argument on the fact that as conflicts may arise due to human nature, the independence, entrenchment and functionality of the 3 arms of government must remain paramount to the forward development of the country. At the Threshold of achieving 50 years of nationhood, Marape has urged for integrity and Christianity to be entrenched in the system of Government. Marape says that as a nation of a thousand tribes, that underlines the core of our unity and it is the unity of the people that has kept the country unified thus far. Addressing the staff of the CLRC and the country, the PM stated that at no cost must we compromise our democracy and it must be entrenched in the way our processes are kept.