The District Council members will be selected by residents of the village within the District and it will be Chaired by the elected Member of Parliament, in line with the $1 million tala district development projects.
These are some of the criteria outlined in Attorney General Su’a Hellene Wallwork’s legal opinion issued last month following issues arising from the respective constituencies on the selection of its members to the District Council Committee.
While other Districts have their offices up and running some have yet to finalize their committee members.
The AG’s legal opinion was addressed in a letter to Minister Women Community and Social Development, Leota Laki Lamositele, dated 5 August 2022 and was obtained by Radio Polynesia.
The AG says her advice is in accordance with the concept note for District Council Projects Documents on the criteria for the selection of the District Council Committees.
The total number of councils will not exceed 15 including the Chair, and each village within a District will select their representative and that all villages will have at least one member representation.
Furthermore, the AG says the Council will be 50 per cent women and 50 per cent men.
“Therefore the DCC must be comprised of a Chairman, the elected MP of the District, and Committee members of not more than 15 members who are selected in accordance with the criteria. My advice may be amended if there is any other information to the contrary as approved by the District Council Cabinet appointed Steering Committee.”
