IPPCC swears in new board members

Caption:  (L) Acting Clerk of Parliament Kala Aufa looks on as Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato take his oath of office.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 13, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

 

THE Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission (IPPCC) has officially sworn in two of its newest board members on Wednesday this week.

Sworn in by Magistrate Thomas Vogusang, the new board members are the Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato and the Acting Clerk of the National Parliament Kala Aufa.

Officiating at the ceremony, Registrar for Political Parties and Candidates, Dr Alphonse Gelu, said that the new board members would now get the Commission running through the appointment of a Chairman to oversee it and the registry.

“This has been the event we have been waiting for in order for us to get the board moving this year,” Dr Gelu said.

“The board does not have a chairman as yet, because of the vacancy and with the swearing in we will have our first meeting before the end of March to early April where the board will appoint a chairperson.”

“The composition of the board is made up of very important stakeholders that are important to the work of the registry. We have the electoral commissioner, clerk of parliament, national council of women rep, a church rep and the CEO of National Economic Fiscal Commission, including me myself the registrar.”

Gelu added that the organic law gives a lot of powers to the board, and the registry s the administrative arm of the commission.

“I drive most of our programs and at the end of every three months I report to the board to inform them of our activities and the same report I produce is given to the prime minister also and the office of the chief secretary.”

All board members remain for the life of their positions in their respective organisations with changes done when changes are done to their various positions in their own organisations.