By
MATTHEW VARI
WITH the setting up of District Development Authorities approved, the government passed consequential bills in relation to the setting up of the authorities on Wednesday’s Parliament session.
The amendments have been made to the Police Act of 1998, Public Service Management Act, and the Teaching Services Act 1988.
Introducing the bill, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said that the consequential bills would give the District Administrators the powers to make decision in real time on the ground in relation to roles of the newly define CEOs of District Authorities and the disciplinary measure that they will be allowed to take in relation to police officers and teachers in the districts.
“This amendment bill will insert a new section and subsections so that the chief executive officer of the District Development Authority is deemed to be a disciplinary officer in relations to minor offences,” Prime Minister O’Neill told Parliament.
“This means that the CEO of the district authority can commence disciplinary actions against Police men and women in the district for minor disciplinary offences.”
“The CEO will be able to lay charges and then refer the matter to the provincial police commander in accordance with the police act. The police provincial commander will then deal with this matter in the usual manner.”
He said that given the CEO’s powers forms a key part of our district development initiative, the CEO would be in charge of all the public servants in the district.
“This people are on the ground and know what is going on, we cannot continue to wait for someone in Waigani to discipline these officers in remote areas,” he said.
He also introduced the change in the title and function of District CEOs to reflect their responsibility as the CEOs in their district.
“I want to take this opportunity to make it very clear that the CEo is an ex-official role in this manner- that means the CEO is to be removed as District Administrator and now called as CEO.”
Teacher will also be put on notice as the Prime Minister also introduce amendments to the teaching service act to allow authority to District Authority CEOs to discipline teachers.
“The teaching services act is amended so that the CEO of the District Development Authority is specifically authorized to charge a teacher with a disciplinary offence,” the PM said.
“The CEO will be able to provisionally suspend a teacher when a serious charge is laid against a serious offense.”
“The suspension remains in effect of 14 days after which time it must be affirmed by the provincial education board.”
“If it is not being affirmed by the provincial education board of course the teacher may resume his duties and the discipline charge is dropped.”
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