CLRC opens custom recording for Goilala and Hiri-Koiari districts

The Constitutional and Law Reform Commission [CLRC] opened the week-long custom recording for Goilala and Hiri-Koiari Districts, that will run throughout this week [ March 17th to 21st].

Governor for Central Province Rufina Peter said preserving the cultural identity is very important and the efforts put in by CLRC was commended.

“Culture is important, each and everyone one of us are shaped and influenced by our ethnic or cultural background.

“This custom recording exercise is really an important piece of work and let me congratulate the Secretary, under the leadership of your Chairman and your staff for the intensive efforts that will be put into this custom recording exercise,” Governor Rufina said.

This paramount responsibility stems from CLRC’s specific mandate, as identified under the Underlying Law Act 2000 and CLRC Act 2004 to meticulously monitor the development of the Underlying Law of Papua New Guinea, through the recording and documentation of customs to prompt effective laws that captures our indigenous ideals and Melanesian philosophies.

CLRC Secretary Dr. Mange Matui outlined the cruciality of the exercise and further encouraged effective collaboration from the participants.

“Many our customs are not used in courts because there is difficulty in identifying a particular custom for a specific ethnic group, hence this exercise.

“We are looking at all aspects of law regarding customs in your area and our officers will be here to record and properly understand the customary laws that govern you, therefore equal collaboration is encouraged,” Dr. Matui said.

He added, “We will make these recordings accessible to the judiciary and they [judiciary] will now look at the pool of customs that have been recorded and apply accordingly to the people of PNG.”

For this exercise, local participants were identified through intensive research with the assistance from the Central Province Governor’s Office.

These participants are from the Toade, Fuyuge and Kunimaipa language groups in Goilala and the Mountain Koiari and Grassland Koiari; within the Hiri-Koiari.

This week-long exercise will also end CLRC’s custom recording and documentation within Central Province since its commencement in 2022, in which the commission had recorded the customs for Kairuku, Rigo and Abau Districts respectively.

Documentation of these customary laws will be vetted and submitted to the floor of parliament for further scrutiny, prior to it being declared as part of our constitution, which may be applicable in resolving traditional disputes within specific ethnic or language groups.

The exercise will be extended to Jiwaka Province once the CLRC completes the custom documentation for the two remaining districts.