Southern Highlands Governor William Powi has expressed serious concern over misleading information recently published in the media regarding governance and administrative matters in the Southern Highlands Province.
Governor Powi reaffirmed that the provincial government, as a constitutionally established third-tier government, was fully empowered by law to govern and manage its own affairs.
He noted that excessive political interference from Waigani continues to undermine the authority of the Provincial Government and the administration on the ground, creating unnecessary confusion and instability.
The Governor has therefore called on the Ministry of Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs (DPLLG), the Department of Personnel Management (DPM), and the Department of
Finance to respect the autonomy of the Southern Highlands Provincial Government and allow it to manage District Development Authority (DDA) operations and public service appointments, in line with the recent amendments to the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments.
Governor Powi explained that, several weeks ago, twenty-two (22) Local-level Government Presidents from the five districts of Southern Highlands were formally sworn in as Members of the Provincial Assembly. In addition, eleven (11) full Provincial Executive Council (PEC) Members were appointed and sworn in during the first Provincial Assembly meeting held at the Mendi Valley Plaza.
The Provincial Assembly elected Dickson Lama, President of South Wiru, as the Deputy Governor. The PEC subsequently held its first meeting following the swearing-in ceremony before the Provincial Senior Magistrate.
The Governor further clarified that, following a circular directive from the Minister for Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs, Soroi Eoe, and in consultation with the provisions of the District Development Authority Act, the Kagua-Erave District Development Authority was convened to elect an Acting DDA Chairman. This was necessitated by the vacancy created after the incumbent Member of Parliament was removed from office by the National Court through an election petition.
The meeting was lawfully conducted by the Members of the Kagua-Erave DDA, the District Administrator, and the Southern Highlands Provincial Administration. This process resulted in the election of David Sule, President of Kagua Central, as Acting Chairman of the Kagua-Erave DDA Board. The election was conducted strictly in compliance with the Ministerial circular and the DDA Act, and was formally witnessed by the Senior Provincial Magistrate in Mendi.
Governor Powi stated that these processes were undertaken lawfully and transparently. He said recent reports published in the Sunday Bulletin misrepresented these facts and reflect a misconception by certain officials and interests in Waigani who continue to undermine the Southern Highlands Provincial Government as a sub-national government with constitutional authority.
“The Minister for Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs must respect the authority on the ground and must not be misled by individuals with vested interests,” Governor Powi said.
“The Secretary for DPLLG is fully aware of these processes and must accord the Southern Highlands Provincial Government the respect and authority required for us to carry out our constitutional functions, based on the unique priorities and challenges of our province.”
Governor Powi reiterated his appeal to the Department of Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs, the Department of Personnel Management, and the Department of Finance to refrain from unnecessary interference in DDA operations and public service appointments within Southern Highlands Province.
“You must respect the authorities on the ground who are working diligently to stabilize and manage a very challenging province. We must uphold the rule of law, respect due process, and recognise the legitimate authority of the Provincial Government,” Governor Powi said.