Speaker to offer new appointments for Parliamentary Committee Chairs
By Eliza Kukutu & Alex Dadamu
The Speaker of Parliament, Patterson Oti, will offer appointments for chairpersons of nine Parliamentary Standing Select Committees.
This follows the resignation of the former chairpersons, all members of the new coalition formed after 12 ministers resigned from the Government for National Unity and Transformation earlier this week.
“I have accepted their resignation. I issued letters accepting their resignation and I will be offering appointments to replace the resigned chairpersons,” Speaker Oti said.
He added that the new appointments will be made promptly once the offers are accepted.
Under Parliament’s Standing Orders, Select Committees are appointed by Parliament.
Their roles include considering bills and other matters referred to them, with the Speaker determining their sizes and nominating chairpersons and members.
The former chairpersons who resigned are:
- John Maneniaru – Bills and Legislation Committee
- David Gina – Constitution Review Committee
- George Temahua – Environmental and Conservation Committee
- Peter Kenilorea – Foreign Relations Committee
- Rick Hou – Parliamentary House Committee
- Gordon Darcy Lilo – Public Accounts Committee
- Lazarus Rina – Public Expenditure Committee
- Dean Kuku – Education and Human Resources Training Committee
- James Bonuga – Police, National Security and Correctional Services Committee
Gordon Darcy Lilo told the media that the group resigned because they “cannot take instructions from a minority government to process the business of Parliament.”
The only committee still with a chairperson is the Health and Medical Services Committee, chaired by Alfred Tuasulia, the current Minister for Communication and Aviation.
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