Induction Program for Parliament of Vanuatu
CDI has supported the National Parliament of Vanuatu in holding the first-ever induction program for newly elected MPs at Parliament House in Port Vila. The induction program followed the national elections held on 2 September and the first sitting of the new Parliament on 22 September 2008.
CDI Deputy Director, Quinton Clements, and Kevin Rozzoli, former Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly, assisted the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Lino Bulekuli dit Sacsac, in designing and delivering the program. They were joined by Mr Warren Cahill, the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Solomon Islands Parliamentary Support Project Manager. Additional support was provided by the UNDP through its Fiji Multi-Country Office.
Mike Reynolds MP, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland; Ms Leanne Clare, First Clerk Assistant, Legislative Assembly of Queensland; and Mrs Taeasi Sanga, Clerk of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, were among the facilitators and presenters at the induction program. The Queensland Parliament has a relationship with the National Parliament of Vanuatu as part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)-initiated twinning arrangement between the two parliaments. Mr Reynolds used the opportunity of attending the induction program to discuss with the new Speaker of the Vanuatu Parliament, George Wells MP, initiatives that might be undertaken as part of the twinning arrangement.
The program was held in the parliamentary chamber of Parliament House from 30 September to 2 October 2008. Of the 52 Members, two-thirds attended the three day induction program. A majority of the new Members of Parliament and many re-elected Members attended each day, including Deputy Prime Minister, Ham Lini, and several other ministers. Members from both the Government and Opposition sides attended.
The induction was officially opened by the Speaker. Presentations were given on the structure of the Vanuatu parliamentary model covering the Constitution, the Leadership Code, the separation of powers, the Standing Orders and parliamentary privilege. All Members received copies of the Constitution, Standing Orders and Leadership Code. This was followed by discussion on the role of a Member and a panel session on the media’s role in reporting Parliament.
On the second day, the President of the Republic, H.E Kalkot Mataskelekele Mauliliu, gave the keynote address. Following this, Members participated in a mock parliamentary session during which practices and procedures were explained and demonstrated. The aim of this session was to ensure that Members are conversant with the rules of debate before they meet for the first ordinary session of the new Parliament in November.
On the final day of the program presentations were given by each of Vanuatu’s constitutional office holders – the Chief Justice, the Public Prosecutor, the Public Solicitor, Ombudsman, Auditor General, as well as the Electoral Commission and the Public Service Commission. The parliamentary staff, led by the Clerk, then explained to Members the various support services available to them such as the Library. The day concluded with presentations on the national planning and budget processes giving Members a focus on the essential information they will need in the years ahead. Prime Minister Natapei attended the official closing of the program.
As a follow-up to the induction program, the Parliament also organised a specialised training workshop for Members on the role of parliamentary committees which took place in March 2009.
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