Post Courier editorial, April 9 2010

WE ARE told that the proposed amendments to the Forestry Act is for good of the seven million people in PNG and there is no sinister motive by Forest Minister Belden Namah and the National Forest Authority in trying to amend the Act.

At the same time, Parliament is dealing with the amendments to Ombudsman Commission Act and we are told that there is nothing sinister about the amendments. 

However opposition to the proposed changes to the two laws are already mounting.

In the case of the Forestry Act, there is talk on the street that, the Minister is trying to centralise power for himself so that he can control the vast forest resources in PNG.

And in the case of the Ombudsman Commission Act, there is also talk that Parliament was trying to take away the powers of the Ombudsman Commission to stop leaders and public office holders from wasting public funds, abuse their office and allow them to trade on the stock market.

We predict turbulent times in the days ahead and should anything happens, the blame must rest with Messrs Maladina and Namah. Maladina and Nemah, before they push radical changes like these in Parliament, need to take in account some things.

Ignorance of the the laws of this country is a big problem. So any attempt to change any part of the constitution or the existing laws will always be viewed with suspicion.

Secondly, the people must be given the right to have their say on any amendments to the existing laws . 

Thirdly, there are systems and procedures put in place for any Parliamentarian or government for that matter, to use, when proposing changes to our laws. This is to allow for the proposed amendments to be scrutinised properly by professionals and changes made to ensure that the proposed amendments are not harmful or dangerous to PNG and its people.

Short cuts like the one employed by Mr Maladina, to introduce the amendments as a Private Members Bill raises questions in the minds of the people.

Good governance, transparency and accountability are key issues here, lest we forget.