PARTIES INTEGRITY BILL CONSULTANTS APPOINTED SOON

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo. Photo credit: OPMC.

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo says the appointment of consultants to develop the regulation and integrity standard of the newly passed Political Parties Integrity Act will be made this month.

Speaking on the progress of the Act after it was passed last week, Prime Minister Lilo confirms, the Government will draw funds from the European Union to advance the process.

“…or by the 9th of June we will have the appointment of a Consultant who will come and help to develop the regulations and the integrity standards. I can say that the European Union have agreed to help us on that.”

He says Commissioners to oversee the Act will be appointed once the regulation is completed this month.

Mr Lilo says a political registration office has already been secured and educational awareness will begin as soon as a registrar and staff are recruited.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Doctor Derek Sikua says the ambitious time frame set by Prime Minister Lilo is unrealistic.

Doctor Sikua says processes such as education and public awareness on political parties cannot be cramped into a short timeframe.

“When you take into account the time that will take for education and awareness of the Bill to our people, I believe that the time required for us to carry out awareness, carry out education programmes to our people and especially Sir if the minimum requirement is for us to recruit 250 financial members, Mr Speaker I think we are trying to rush this thing.”