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Details: Written by: Administrator; Category: Articles; Published: 12 September 2023; Hits: 1282

Members of Parliament

The Vanuatu Parliament is unicameral and is currently comprised of 52 seats held by Members elected by universal suffrage within electoral system including an element of proportional representations. Every citizen of Vanuatu (Ni-Vanuatu) who is at least 25 years of age is eligible to stand for election to Parliament subject to the conditions laid down by the Representation of the People Act.

Members represent and inform constituents. They need to know how the government system works in order to be able to help constituents. They bring many different skills to their job and come from many different backgrounds. Once elected they represent everybody in their area by keeping in touch with regular meetings and clinics. Some members use newsletters to keep in touch, attend community meetings, contact special interest groups and then build networks.

What Members of Parliament do?

Most Members can thus be viewed as having three roles that of parliamentarian, constituency representative, and party member.

Working in Parliament

When Parliament is sitting (meeting), MP's generally spend their time working in the Parliament. This can include raising issues affecting their constituents, attending debates and voting on new laws.

Most MPs' are also members of committees, which look at issues in detail, from government policy and new laws, to wider topics like human rights.

Working in their constituency

Members provide a direct link between their constituents and the Parliament. In their constituency, MP's often visit their people, where local people can come along to discuss any matters that concern them.

MP's also attend functions, visit schools and communities and generally try to meet as many people as possible. This gives MP's further insight and context into issues they may discuss when they return to Parliament.

It is the constituents who pass judgment on the performance of Members of Parliament at each election. Members must prove themselves fit for the task of being their parliamentary representative. All Members who wish to make a long-term commitment to improving the governance of Vanuatu need to be dedicated to serving the interests of their electorates and proving themselves worthy of re-election.

Details: Written by: Administrator; Category: Articles; Published: 12 September 2023; Hits: 1260

Parliamentary Standing Committees

Parliament automatically resolves itself into the Committee of the Whole House under the chairmanship of the speaker when debating a private or government Bill. They are often referred to as the ‘workhorses’ of a parliament. It is at the committee stage that the text of parliamentary bills is revised and refined to ensure that it is correct and ready for debate by the full Parliament

Parliamentary committees are part of the oversight mechanisms that operate in parliamentary democracies. They are expected to pay close attention to bills put forward by government and raise questions and concerns about what the legislation is intended to achieve, and how. One of the most important and potentially powerful committees is the Public Accounts Committee. Its job is to scrutinize how government through ministries, departments and other agencies spends public money.

Committees are able to liaise with the wider society about proposed legislation. They can invite submissions from civil society organizations, the private sector and academics about the issues that a parliamentary bill is intended to address.

Special or standing committees may also be formed. These committees may not include more that seven Members. Each committee appoints it's own chairman. The chairman of the committee has the same power and duties as the speaker of Parliament on all matters which Parliament refers to that committee.

Facts

The Standing Committees were established by resolution of Parliament upon the leader of the Government Business giving notice of motion to establish Standing committees.
Article 23 of the Constitution states: “Parliament may establish committees and appoint members to them”
The members of the standing Committees are nominated by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition representing proportionally the political parties represented in Parliament.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committees are elected by the Committees among their Members.
The term of office of the Standing Committees is four (4) years.
A Minister is not eligible to be appointed as a member of the Standing Committees and if a member, after his appointment to a Standing Committees, is appointed a Minister, he ceases to be a member of a Standing Committee from the date of such appointment.

Why appoint committees?

The role of committees is to investigate and to draw attention to what they find. They throw ‘light in dark corners’ and give advice.
Committees were appointed specifically to do work that the Chamber is not suited to do

allow time for deeper consideration for issues (eg. Bills... )
allow policy makers and administrators to be questioned
allow expert advice to be gathered
allow community opinion to be expressed

What is the value of committees?

work of parliament spread evenly among MPs. As well as parliament extracting this value from committees, MPs can get considerable personal benefit from working on committees.
MPs develop specialised knowledge. Young MPs who contribute actively to committee work can establish a knowledge-base and a profile and reputation which can advance their political ambitions and their careers beyond politics. MPs may used committees to build their political profile well which can see them subsequently appointed to ministerial positions.
Committees can exert enormous influence on public spending, policy and administration through their work.
Parliament to the People

Number of the Standing Committees:

Parliament has therefore establish four Standing Committees
The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have appointed the members to the said Standing Committees.

The membership of the four Parliamentary Standing Committees are therefore as follow:

Details: Written by: Administrator; Category: Articles; Published: 12 September 2023; Hits: 774

COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTION AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

The key responsibilities of Committee on Institution are:

To inquire into and consider any question related to National Government institutions such as the State Office, the Parliament, the Judiciary, the Public Service Commission, the Ombudsman Office, the Auditor-General Office, the Public Prosecutor Office, the Public Solicitor Office, the Electoral Commission, the Government Departments, the Decentralization Projects as provided in the Constitution with the view of assessing the performance of the said institutions;
To report to Parliament on the performance of the institutions of Government and their ability to fulfill their roles and required under the Constitution;
To recommend and report to Parliament as to what corrective actions are to be undertaken to review the institutions of Government through procedural changes or institutional reforms;
To review the existing Standing Orders of Parliament from time to time and report to Parliament with such comments as it thinks fit, any rules of procedures of parliamentary practice in those Standing Orders to which the Committee is of the opinion that the attention of Parliament should be directed;
To report to Parliament any changes which the Committee thinks desirable or any alteration which the Committee thinks fit in the interpretation of the Speaker’s ruling;
To enquire into any question in connection with the parliamentary rules of procedures and practice which is referred to it by Parliament and to report to Parliament upon that question;
To review from time to time Members Expenses and Allowances as provided for in the Members (Expenses and Allowances) Act [CAP. 109] (as amended) and to report to Parliament upon that case for its determination;
To examine and, from time to time, ascertain privileges, immunities, entitlements and parliamentary rights of Members as provided under Article 27 of the Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu;
To consider any question as to whether a Member has been validly sued, arrested, charged and detained in compliance with the provisions of the Article 27 of the Constitution, and to report to Parliament for its determination;
To inquire into any case of contempt of Parliament which is referred to it by Parliament, and to report to Parliament for its determination;
To research, enquire and formulate a Code of Ethics and Integrity for Members of Parliament;
To report on the formulated Code to Parliament for its approval; and
To implement the Code;
To consider and examine Government bills and report to Parliament;
To consider and examine annual reports of Government Ministries and report to Parliament;
To receive briefings or initiate inquiries onto matters related to the subject areas of the Committee;
To consider and examine any Order made by a Minister under an enactment related to the subject areas of the Committee;
To consider any matter, business and question as may be referred by Parliament from time to time; and
Include such other duties as assigned to the Committee by the Standing Orders approved by Parliament

13th Legislature Committee on Institutional and Constitutional Affairs

#	Members of Parliament	Position
1	Hon. Marcellino BARTHELEMY	Chairman
2	Hon. Sakaes LULU	Vice-Chairman
3	Hon. James BULE	Member
4	Hon. Samsen SAMSON	Member
5	Hon. Andrew S. KALPOILEP	Member
6	Hon. Jack WONA	Member
7	Hon. Justin NGWELE	Member

Details: Written by: Administrator; Category: Articles; Published: 12 September 2023; Hits: 1063

COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS

The duties of Committee on Social Policy are:

To inquire and examine matters related to health, education, professional associations and accreditations;
To inquire into and examine matters related to labor relations, culture, leisure, sports and broadcasting;
To inquire into and examine matters to Law and order, public owned corporation with social vocation and social infrastructure;
To report to Parliament as to the results of inquiry or review on such matters subject to the inquiry or review;
To recommend as to what measures are to be taken under procedural and reform changes in such matters subject to the inquiry or review;
To consider, inquire into and examine Government bills and report to Parliament;
To consider, inquire into and examine annual reports of Government Ministries and report to Parliament;
To receive briefings or initiate inquires onto matters related to the subject areas of the Committee;
To consider and examine any Order made by a Minister under an enactment related to the subject areas of the Committee;
To consider any matter, business or question as may be referred by Parliament from time to time; and
Include such other duties as assigned to the Committee by the Standing Orders approved by Parliament

13th Legislature Committee on Social Affairs

#	Members of Parliament	Position
1	Hon. Gaetan PIKIOUNE	Chairman
2	Hon. Christophe EMELEE	Vice-Chairman
3	Hon. Don KEN	Member
4	Hon. Anthony HARRY	Member
5	Hon. Gloria Julia KING	Member
6	Hon. Blaise SUMPTOH	Member
7	Hon. John Nil ROY	Member