By GINNAH MINI
THE University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to rehabilitate and preserve the Constitutional House on Motupore Island in Central Province.
The Constitutional House played a significant role in in the development of PNG’s constitution leading up to independence in 1975.
Speaking at the signing of the MoU at UPNG School of Law (SOL), the Secretary for CLRC, Dr. Mange Matui said that CLRC’s vision is more about restoring the landmark building.
“We want this particular Constitutional House to become a place where students, researchers, public servants and professionals can have access to it and learn about our constitutional history,” Dr. Matui said.
“This building that we’re going to be renovating must be utilized.”
Dr. Matui noted that the landmark building played a crucial part in PNG’s history, and CLRC as the successor of Constitutional Planning Committee (CPC), they have the moral responsibility to ensure that the building is in proper condition.
The Vice Chancellor of UPNG, Professor Ian Findlay said that the renovation of the Constitutional House at Motupore Island, Central Province, is about renovating PNG’s heritage.
“We have to learn from our history, we have to learn from our heritage, and a Constitutional House at Motupore Island is a major part of our history, our heritage,” Professor Findlay said.
Dr. Matui said that they had the discussion of renovating the landmark building at Central Province and presented it to Professor Findlay. The VC pushed the idea to restore the Constitutional House which is of national importance to the country.