The Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs (MTGPEA) have successfully completed a workshop on the Traditional Governance Bill in Malaita Province.
The workshop was held on the 28 June 2024 at the Women’s Community Centre in Auki. A total of 25 participants attended the workshop representing traditional leaders, church elders, women leaders and youth leaders from Northern Malaita, Kwara’ae, East Kwaio and Langalanga lagoon and also from Malaita Provincial Government
The aim of the workshop was to update the leaders, elders, women representatives and youth representatives on the status of the Traditional Governance Bill and seek further insights about the existing structures on traditional governance within their communities and regions.
The workshop was graced by opening remarks from the Premier of Malaita Province Hon. Elijah Asilaua and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs Dr. Derek Futaiasi and facilitated by MTGPEA staff.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop the Premier of Malaita highlighted to the chiefs and traditional leaders that “it is essential to embrace the important aspects of valuing our traditional governance hence the need to formally recognize the governing structure, powers, and functions of our House of Chiefs and related traditional structures”.
Reinforcing Malaita Premier Statement, MTGPEA Permanent Secretary Dr Derek Futaiasi highlighted the need for traditional governance in Malaita “to build on our values, practices and protocols that will endure hence the need to incorporate them into a system that will make governance work for Malaita now and into the foreseeable future.”
Most participants who are traditional leaders and elders within their tribes and communities see the importance of the Traditional Governance reform and highlighted the need to ensure that this current parliament pass the Traditional Governance Bill and related reforms.
Also they highlighted the crucial roles of chiefs and traditional leaders at the ground level in village governance, conflict resolution and customary land governance.
Concerns were expressed by participants regarding the length and timing of the legislative process for the Bill’s passage by Parliament to provide appropriate recognition of their roles.
Most of the participants are of the view that the relationship between traditional governance and customary land governance is important, and this relationship needs to be properly trodden as the relationship is central to the livelihood of people and communities.
At the workshop the Ministry team updated participants on the status of the Traditional Governance and Custom Facilitation Bill and other relevant legal reforms that will associate closely with issues around the roles of custom, customary land governance and traditional governance in the Constitution.
Also the team updated the participants on the 100 days policy statement of the current Government and the way forward for the TG Bill.
MTGPEA team assured the participants that Ministry will work closely with the Fundamental Reform Sector of Policy Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to fast track the implementation of TG Bill process.
At the workshop Ministry team had the opportunity to capture and hear from the participants customary governance structures from East Kwaio, Kwara’ae, North Malaita and Langalanga.
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