G.E.I.C People

Bigger Voice For

In Own Affairs

A new constitution giving the people of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony a much greater voice in their own affairs is to be introduced in the colony later this year. rpHE constitution provides for a A House of Representatives of up to 30 members, 23 of whom will be elected by the people.

The 23 elected members will choose from their own number five members of an 11-member Govern ing Council, which will have the power to make laws for the colony.

The House of Representatives will replace the existing Advisory Council, which was created in 1963, and whose 18 official and unofficial members are all appointed by the Resident Commissioner.

The Governing Council will replace the three-year-old Executive Council, whose eight members, both official and unofficial are also appointed.

The House of Representatives will be elected by universal adult suffrage in secret ballot.

There will be 18 electoral districts —those in the Gilbert Islands return ing 19 members, and those in the Ellice, four.

Electoral districts

The electoral districts are: Gilberts: Makin; Butaritari; Mara kei; Abaiang (two members); Urban Tarawa, also including Ocean Island (two); Rural Tarawa; Maiana; Abe mama; Aranuka and Kuria; Nonouti; Tabiteuea (two); Onotoa; Beru; Nikunau; Arorae; Tamana.

Ellice Islands: Nanumanga, Nanu mea, Niutao and Niu (two); Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti and Nukulaelae (two).

Besides the 23 elected members, the House of Representatives will have up to seven official members— the Assistant Resident Commissioner as ex-officio member, and not more than six public officers (to be known as appointed members) appointed by the Resident Commissioner.

The House of Representatives will act as a public forum for the airing of views on territory matters, and will advise the Governing Council on ordinances and other matters.

The elected members will also choose five of their number to sit on the Governing Council, and will have power to remove any one of them by a no-confidence motion.

One of the five members of the Governing Council (who must not be a civil servant) will be chosen as “Chief Elected Officer”. Of the four others, three must represent the Gilbert Islands, and one the Ellice Islands.

The Governing Council will also comprise the Assistant Resident Com missioner, ex-officio, and four public officers appointed by the Resident Commissioner. The Resident Com missioner will preside, and will have a casting vote.

Consideration of legislation will be in public.

Except in certain extreme circum stances, the Resident Commissioner must act in accordance with the Governing Council’s advice, and must not act without consulting it.

The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific will have power to make laws concerning international affairs, defence and public order.

But only the Queen, through a Secretary of State, will have power to disallow laws made for the colony.

Salaries

Members of the Governing Council will probably receive a salary, but members of the House of Representa tives will not.

The House of Representatives will be elected for two years.

An Order in Council promulgating the new constitution will incorporate provisions guaranteeing the funda mental rights and freedoms of the individual, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Order in Council will be signed in time for elections to the House of Representatives and a meeting of the House to be held in the last quarter of the year.

Footnote: Speaking of constitutional matters at the opening of the Ad visory Council on July 14, the Resident Commissioner, Mr. V. J.

Andersen, expressed regret that little enthusiasm had been shown for trying to find a new name for the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The idea of a new name was put forward a year ago when the proposed constitutional changes in the colony were first mooted (PIM, July, 1966, p. 12).

The colony’s present name is con sidered to be “not entirely accurate, rather cumbersome and to emphasise dependency”.