Overview
The Provincial Executive Council (PEC) is the highest executive decision-making body of the West New Britain Provincial Government. Established under Section 23 subsection 1 of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments (OLPLLG), the PEC is responsible for providing collective executive leadership, strategic direction, and oversight over the governance, administration, and development of the Province. It serves as the executive arm of the Provincial Government, working in close collaboration with the Provincial Assembly to ensure that the Province is governed effectively, transparently, and in the best interests of all the people of West New Britain.
The PEC is chaired by the Provincial Governor and is composed of the Deputy Provincial Governor and appointed Local Level Government Presidents. The Provincial Administrator attends in an advisory capacity. The Council meets regularly to deliberate on and make collective decisions on matters of provincial governance, policy, planning, budgeting, and administration.
The Provincial Executive Council is accountable to the Provincial Assembly, which has the constitutional authority to scrutinize, question, and hold the PEC accountable for its decisions, actions, and the management of provincial resources. The PEC is also subject to oversight by the National Government through relevant national ministries and agencies, and by independent oversight bodies such as the Auditor General and the Ombudsman Commission.
The Parliamentary Services Unit (PSU) provides administrative, technical, and logistical support to the Provincial Executive Council to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of the legislative sector.
Key Functions
The Provincial Executive Council performs the following key functions:
- Executive Decision-Making – Making collective executive decisions on all matters relating to the governance and administration of the province
- Policy Endorsement & Decision Making – Make decisions on and endorse provincial policies across all sectors of government
- Budget Preparation and Endorsement – Overseeing the preparation and endorsing the annual provincial budget before submission to the Provincial Assembly for approval
- Provincial Development Planning – Directing and overseeing the formulation and implementation of provincial development plans and programs
- Legislative Initiation – Initiating and endorsing provincial bills and legislation before they are tabled in the Provincial Assembly
- Appointments and Confirmations – Endorsing and confirming the appointment of senior provincial officials, and members of provincial boards and statutory bodies
- Oversight of Provincial Administration – Overseeing the performance and operations of the Provincial Administration, its sector, and divisions
- Intergovernmental Relations – Representing and maintaining the province’s relations with the National Government, other provinces, and external stakeholders
Key Responsibilities
The Provincial Executive Council is responsible for:
- Deliberating on and approving major provincial government decisions, initiatives, and policy directions
- Ensuring all executive decisions are made lawfully, collectively, transparently, and in the best interests of the province
- Directing the implementation of approved policies and development plans through relevant sectors and divisions
- Ensuring the provincial budget reflects the development priorities and needs of communities across the province
- Initiating, reviewing, and endorsing provincial bills and legislation before submission to the Provincial Assembly
- Overseeing the performance of Provincial Administration, Sectors, and Divisional heads who are accountable for service delivery
- Endorsing and confirming appointments of senior officials and members of provincial statutory bodies
- Maintaining and strengthening intergovernmental relations with the National Government and development partners
- Ensuring the provincial government operates with transparency, accountability, and integrity in all its activities
- Reporting to the Provincial Assembly on the performance and activities of the executive arm of government
Key Programs & Services
The Provincial Executive Council oversees and directs the following key programs and services:
- Provincial Governance and Administration – Providing overall executive leadership and direction for the governance and administration of the province, ensuring the West New Britain Provincial Administration, its Sectors and Divisions function effectively and deliver services to the people.
- Provincial Budget and Financial Management – Overseeing the preparation and endorsement of the provincial budget to ensure responsible and equitable allocation and utilization of public resources.
- Provincial Development Planning – Directing the formulation and implementation of the Provincial Development Plan, and sector development plans in alignment with the national development frameworks.
- Appointments – Endorsement of senior appointments, particularly the Provincial Administrator and District Administrators.
- Intergovernmental Relations and Stakeholder Engagement – Managing and strengthening the province’s relations with the National Government, other provinces, civil society, churches, the private sector, and development partners.
- Law and Order and Public Safety – Providing executive direction and oversight on matters of law and order, public safety, and emergency management within the Province.
- Sector Representatives – Provincial Executive Council (PEC) members each serve as chairmen of priority sectors within the province, namely Finance and Planning, Technical Services, Community Development and Law and Order, Health, LLG Affairs and Physical Planning, Agriculture and Economic Services, and Education. Through their respective chairmanships, each member provides oversight, direction, and leadership within their designated sector to ensure that government programs and services are effectively delivered. This sectoral arrangement ensures that responsibilities are clearly defined and distributed to address the diverse developmental needs of the province.
Structure & Leadership
The PEC operates through the following structure:
- Chairman of PEC
The Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments, 1995, Section 23, subsection 3, states that the Governor is the Chairman of PEC.
- Structure of PEC
The PEC Secretariat looks after the Provincial Executive Council (PEC). Its role is stipulated in the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments 1995, which is to provide administrative and secretarial support to the Council, manage meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, and records of decisions.
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The WNB PEC has a male Cabinet Secretary who reports to the Director of Parliamentary Services Unit (PSU). He is a staff member of the Parliamentary Services Unit of the Provincial Administration.
- Composition
Section 23, subsections 2 and 4, stipulate that PEC shall consist of the Provincial Governor, who is the Chairman, Deputy Governor, and Chairmen appointed by the Governor.
Total Membership shall be five or one-third of the total membership of the Provincial Assembly. West New Britain Provincial Executive Council has a total of 7 Members.
| No. | Name | Portfolio in PEC | Constituency |
| 1 | Hon. Sasindran Muthuvel | Provincial Governor, PEC, and Finance and Human Resource Chairman | Provincial Level |
| 2 | Hon. John Rova | Deputy Governor and Chairman for Technical Services | Talasea Rural LLG- President |
| 3 | Hon. Nick Tupi | Chairman for Community Development and Law and Justice Sector | Kimbe Urban Rural LLG – Town Mayor |
| 4 | Hon. Jim Ninda | Chairman for Health Sector | Mosa Rural LLG- President |
| 5 | Hon. John Gah | Chairman for LLG Affairs and Lands and Physical Planning | East Nakanai Rural LLG- President |
| 6 | Tule Meckle | Chairman for Agriculture and Economic Services | Gloucester Rural LLG-President |
| 7 | Hon. Peter Letong | Chairman for Education | Kandrian Coastal Rural LLG-President |
| 8 | Hon. Sam Kivia | Chairman for Public Service | Bali Vitu Rural LLG President |
The sector chairmen are political heads who represent a specific sector through their mandated portfolios.
Strategic Focus
- The Provincial Executive Council remains committed to providing strong, transparent, and inclusive executive leadership that drives the sustainable development and improved well-being of all the people of West New Britain.
Contact Information
For enquiries related to the Provincial Executive Council, please contact:
Division: Parliamentary Services Unit
Phone:
Email: blaise.malagau @ wnbpg.gov.pg
Location: Kimbe-Provincial Headquarters