BY CHARLES STENNETT
Work is ongoing to fast track the legislative and policy reform program of the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE), with consultation with the Policy, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PIMEU), of the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet (OPMC) having been held last week.
The Legislative and Policy Cabinet Sub-Committee provides in-house legal and policy support to ministries to ensure priority legislation and policy reforms are developed and implemented promptly.
A statement from MMERE said Sub-Committee Chair, Francis Waleanisia, welcomed the commitment.
“I am very pleased with the Permanent Secretary and his senior management team. Their willingness to engage reflects the Prime Minister’s call for everyone to work hard to deliver meaningful change. Real change does not happen by magic — we all have a responsibility to play our part in making it happen,” Mr Waleanisia said.
He said the collaborative engagement between the Prime Minister’s Office political unit and line ministries represents a new approach to supporting Government reforms.
“This kind of engagement between the PMO political unit and ministries is new to all of us, but I believe it is the right approach to driving progress and ensuring Government priorities are translated into action,” he said.
Mr Waleanisia noted that mining remains a key priority for the Government, making the completion of the Minerals Bill 2025 a matter of urgency.
“Mining is a major focus for the present Government. Finalising the review of the Minerals Bill 2025 is therefore a priority,” he said.
The statement said other priority reforms include new legislative and policy frameworks for electricity, water, petroleum and gas, geological surveys, and institutional strengthening.
Mr Waleanisia also added that reforms are necessary to respond to emerging national challenges, including the impacts of climate change, the rising cost of living, the increasing availability of affordable alternative energy sources, rapid technological advancement, and the need to strengthen institutional frameworks.
The ongoing consultations are expected to modernise MMERE’s legislative and policy framework to better address these challenges while supporting sustainable development and economic growth.
On the implementation timeline, Mr Waleanisia acknowledged that the programme is operating under demanding deadlines.
“We have been given very tight deadlines, so the positive response and commitment demonstrated by the Permanent Secretary and his senior staff are both encouraging and reassuring. With this level of cooperation, I am confident we can make significant progress,” he said.
The Sub-Committee comprises of Francis Waleanisia, Ronald Dive and Yvonne Ogaoga — all experienced legal practitioners with expertise in litigation, legislative review and policy development.
It is also supported by two legislative drafters from the Attorney General’s Chambers Drafting Division, Kerrie Faradatolo and Doris Tabepuda.
Photo credit: MMERE
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