Leader of Government Business in the New Ireland Legislative Assembly Hon.
Edwin Maingen is urging Treasurer and Kavieng Open MP Ian Ling Stuckey not to fear the newly established Provincial Assembly Inquiry Committee.
He said in every Democracy a Watch dog is needed to ensure checks and balances and the Provincial Inquiry Committee is no different to those of the National Parliament’s.
Maingen clarified that the decision to set up the Committee was not a rushed one, nor was it intended to be a one sided membership. “The opportunity for the National Alliance President’s to be part of the committee was offered to them.
However the President’s declined to accept on the 20th of April during the special assembly meeting. We asked them again after two months but they still declined.
We cannot allow a few individuals to hold this province to ransome. The committee must proceed because it is the right thing to do,” expressed Maingen.
He said section 25 of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments clearly states that a Provincial Executive Council shall in accordance with an act of the Parliament in subsection ( a) establish a Joint Provincial Planning and Budget Priorities Committee, (b) establish such number of committees ( including permanent committees) as it considers necessary to carry out its functions.
Meanwhile the leader of Government business is also calling on the Kavieng Open MP not to worry primary school students with administrative issues that should be dealt with the District Development Authority and the Provincial Executive Council.
Maingen was reffering to Stuckey’s statement at Tapias Primary school where he said New Ireland needs a five year Provincial plan endorsed by the Department of Implementation and Rural Development to access public investment program funding from Government.
“ You cannot have a Provincial Plan without District plans and both MP’s for Kavieng and Namatanai have not submitted any district plans.
How can we have a unified Provincial Plan? Stuckey as Governor never produced one and now we are still waiting for his district plan.
The JPP and the PEC is there, Stuckey can easily attend these meetings to contribute to the development aspirations of this province instead of playing cheap politics ,” said Maigen.