Dr Eric Kwa

Secretary of the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission, Dr Eric Kwa, said this during the 54^th Medical Symposium in Madang Province.

“I want to hear from doctors, if there are thousand doctors and medical practitioners being registered today, can I have a thousand voices from you because we have been talking to the ordinary Papua New Guineans in the markets and the provincial headquarters but what about you, what is your view?”

The university will be running a series of seminars on certain terms of reference or topics of the review. This followed a signing of an MOU between Constitutional and Law Reform Commission Secretary, Dr Eric Kwa, and UPNG Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Vincent Malaibe on Wednesday, September 5^th.

“The agreement is that we want to give some funding to these universities and they run the seminars at their own time but we expect them to give us the feedback by next month,” Dr Kwa said, adding that the ongoing nationwide consultation alone was not enough.

Constitutional Law Reform Commission (CLRC) Secretary, Dr Eric Kwa, said this during his keynote address to auditors attending the 13^th Annual Conference of the Institute of Internal Auditors PNG Chapter.

He said under the ICAC Bill, any third party such as auditors who come across corrupt dealings but do not report them will be prosecuted.

Speaking at the 13^th Annual Conference, Dr Eric Kwa said the ICAC Bill allows for the prosecution of third parties who turn a blind eye to corrupt activities.

A recent review of the Organic Law by the Constitutional Law Reform Commission provides for provincial autonomy as well as a clause for provinces to manage their own finances.

CLRC Chairman, Dr Eric Kwa, said the commission was asked by the Government to review the law with a specific focus on ‘autonomy.’

“We want to provide opportunity for our provinces to get autonomy. And in that window, we also want to give them financial autonomy,” said Kwa.

The colonial laws are part of 1,861 laws which will be reviewed by the Constitutional Law Reform Commission.

CLRC Chairman, Dr Eric Kwa, says he has been instructed by the Government to carry out the review, including the colonial laws which are of British and Australian origin.

“So we are to transform 1, 389 laws, that’s from Independence up, and then 522 colonial laws, and we have been asked to develop new laws.”

He said whatever decision is made by Cabinet is not automatically becomes a law.

Dr Kwa said this today during his presentation at the ‘Certified Practicing Accountants’ annual workshop in Port Moresby.

The Government recently announced in Parliament the nomination fee increases for the National and Local Level Government Elections in PNG.

Intending candidates for the National Elections are to pay a K10, 000 nomination fee, an increase from K1000, while the candidates contesting the LLG Elections to pay K2, 000, which is an increase from K500.

This was revealed by the Chairman of Constitutional Law Reform Commission, Dr Eric Kwa, during the Certified Practising Accountants Annual conference in Port Moresby.

Dr Kwa said what was costing the state in millions of Kina in laws drafted by private firms, could be done freely by CLRC.

The CLRC is also the only constitutionally mandated office to carry out reviews and drafting of laws in PNG.

“The current legal fee that we’ve got from a private law firm, they’re charging K7 million for the drafting of a law.

Secretary for Constitution and Law Reform Committee Dr Eric Kwa revealed this today.

He said CLRC has reviewed this law and made it gender balanced across the board.

According to CLRC Working Paper 23, three pieces of legislation to deal with maintenance in PNG.

A wife and children who have been deserted may claim maintenance in the District Court or the Local Court under the Deserted Wives and Children Act.

A spouse of a statutory marriage may claim maintenance in the National Court under the Matrimonial Causes Act.

Secretary for Constitution and Law Reform Committee Dr Eric Kwa revealed this today during the joint annual Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) PNG and CPA Australia conference in Port Moresby.

Dr Kwa said the law is now effective and is implemented across the country.

“Any kid that got married under 18 years of age will serve his/her term in prison.”

Dr Kwa also issued a warning to the parents that are encouraging their children to get married under the age of 18, will also face the law.

Whilst presenting at the National Council of Women’s Consultative Workshop on Wednesday, the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission Secretary, Dr Eric Kwa, stated that one of these proposed laws is a law that will forbid children who are below the age of 18, from getting married. This piece of legislation will be incorporated into the Marriage Act.

Women who do not own properties and are often left hopeless and desperate after losing everything to their spouse in a divorce, will now be entitled to 50 percent of the assets, upon the couple's separation.