RTA formation lengthy due to compliances: Mumu

Caption: Transport Secretary Roy Mumu



By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, February 14, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)




DEPARTMENT of Transport Secretary and Motor Traffic Superintendent, Roy Mumu has outlined legal processes and compliance as major factors in the establishment of the new Road Traffic Authority (RTA) that was passed by parliament through the Road Traffic Act 2014.

When responding to queries made by the Sunday Chronicle on the length of time taken to establish the new traffic body- Secretary Mumu said the second phase of its establishment was completed two weeks ago with the swearing in of the authority’s inaugural board consisting of non-Ex-Officio member and ex-officio members from key government agencies.

He said that the passing of the RTA Act and gazettal in mid to late 2014 concluded the first stage in the creation of the authority, adding that amendment to laws regulatory statutory authorities was amended also during the year that the RTA act was passed.

“In 2014, the process for appointment of all CEOs and non Ex-Officio board members of Statutory Authorities under the ‘Regulatory Statutory Authorities (Appointment to Certain Offices) Act 2004’ RSA Act was amended by Parliament and became operational in late 2014,” Mumu said.

“For the RTA non-Ex-Officio board members, the Merit Based Process (Fit and proper persons test) had to be undertaken by the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) as the Secretariat to the Ministerial Executive Appointments Committee (MEAC) under the new RSA amendments, previously performed by the Public Services Commission.”

“The Department of Transport (DOT) and the National Roads Safety Council (NRSC) in 2015 facilitated in contacting five roads related stakeholders to provide nominees to the RTA Board so that the merit process and endorsement by MEAC and NEC can be completed and to ensure that the process for their appointment can be complied with in all aspects.”

He said through NEC under an NEC joint submission by outgoing minister (William Duma) approved the appointment of the five non ex-officio members on 10th December 2015.

“The Gazettal of the RTA Board appointment was made on Gazette No: G4 dated 06th January 2016.”

“The Swearing-In ceremony would have been done by Minister Duma but had to be done by in-coming Minister Nixon Duban following the Ministerial Reshuffle last month by the Prime Minister.”

“Therefore, it is not about delays but more so in fully complying with the process,” he added.