MPGIS to repay all entitlements for Caretaker Premiers
CARETAKER Premiers of Choiseul and Western Provincial Governments will be compensated with the payment of their salaries and benefits backdated to June this year.
The executives’ members of both the provincial governments will also be compensated.
This was revealed by the Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) Rollen Seleso in parliament on Monday during the committee of supply debate into the 2023 budget.
His response came following questions raised by the Opposition side in relations to the move taken by the minister to revoke the order to dissolve the two provincial governments and allow them to be run by their respective provincial administrations.
Since June this year, both provincial governments along with the premiers and the executive have been dissolved after they reached their natural death.
Since, there was no caretaker government in place to run the affairs of the two provinces.
However, after much debate and review following questions being raised by the two outgoing premiers, the ministry realized it had erred to remove the premier and the executive members.
Because of that, Minister Seleso said, a new gazette order was issued for both Choiseul and Western Provincial Governments to be reinstated before the polling day this Wednesday.
The Minister added, the revocation of the previous order and the reinstatement of both caretaker government is important to avoid setting a precedence in the future.
“This is important so that when a provincial government reaches its natural death, a caretaker government comes into effect and runs the government until an election is held and a new premier is appointed,” he said.
Minister Seleso also told parliament that government through MPGIS will repay all their entitlements and salaries backdated to June this year since the former executive was dissolved.
According to the new Gazette Order, both premiers will be in a caretaker mode until the election of a new premier early next month.
By MOFFAT MAMU
