By Loretta B Manele
We’re looking at the federal system the opposite way, whereas the classical sense of federal system is that states cede power to a federal government.
Peter Kenilorea Junior, member of parliament for East Are’Are constituency and Leader of the Independent Group stated this at the debate of the Constitution Amendment, Constituent Assembly Sitting Bill 2024 in parliament on Tuesday 17th Dec.
He pointed out that for us, it is the central government giving back power to the provinces which is definitely the opposite of the classical definition of federal system.
Kenilorea Jr however mentioned that this is something that they have to discuss and continue to try and figure out how they can get to that stage.
Moreover, he spoke about the term “homegrown” and stated that during discussions prior to independence, homegrown was used.
“The word homegrown has been used. Sometimes we feel misused because we all know the systems that we have are already set as templates that we pick and choose.
It’s part of the system that we’re in. Sovereign governments, in we go communism or in we go state democracy. In we go federal or unitary”
He added that these are already cut out templates and the homegrown part of it is perhaps the consultation part and issues regarding land, particularly customary land and how we deal with it.
Kenilorea Jr said he explained to the people of his constituency that these systems which are already set in place is like that of a football game or soccer.
He stated that in soccer we don’t make the rules of the game but we love to play the game and when we play, we bring our own talents to the game.
“That’s the homegrown part of it. But otherwise, the systems are already in place”
He said the laws and system we adopted are already set in place and we definitely chose to go a certain path and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Kenilorea Jr expressed that these are things that should bring us comfort in terms of finding the best system for us, the best way we can adopt and tweak that will fit into the context and specifications of our country.
