Puntland State Minister Meets Delegation from Somali TFG Constitution

[Cowke]

Puntland State Minister Meets Delegation from Somali Constitution Making Support Mission.

 

Garowe - The State Minister of the Puntland Presidency for Democratization and Federal Affairs, Dr. Abdi Hassan Jimale, hosted a delegation from the UNDP Somalia Office in Nairobi this morning.

 

Mr. Arnold Marseille, the reporting and communication officer from UNDP Somalia Constitution Making Support Project and Mr. Omar Aden Mohamed the Media and Civic Education Officer for the Constitution Project were accompanied by the UNDP SIDP representative Mr. Phillip Cooper to the State House in Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland.

 

The project has five goals to complete within its mandate so as to succeed in its mission according to a service description document submitted to the State Minister's office prior to the delegation's visit. The goals suggest a dependence on public engagement, progress in stabilization and political dialogue between Puntland, the TFG and significant political groupings.

 

"The purpose of our visit is to discuss on how to implement Civic Education for the TFG Somalia Constitution," Mr. Omar Aden Mohamed said. "Our objective in this regard is to reach as many Somalis as possible."

 

Mr. Arnold Marseille gave an overview of the planning stage and recounted activities that had been undertaken by the project.

 

After the overview of the initial stage,the delegation inquired on the media tools used in the dissemination of the Puntland constitution.

 

H.E Dr. Abdi Hassan Jimale provided an elaboration of the various processes and tools used during the dissemination process as well as the lessons learnt during the implementation of the task.

 

The State Minister brought up the unresolved contentions that came up during the TFG constitution development process.

 

"As a stakeholder of the TFG constitution we are entitled to inclusion in the constitution making committee," Dr. Jimale Said. "Ignoring Puntland will be disadvantageous to the entire constitution process."

 

Dr. Jimale informed the delegation that that concern had been tabled to the relevant authorities with suggestions for amendment.

 

The State Minister told them that the TFG constitution would not be received well by the people of Puntland since they had not been included in the constitution making processes.

 

In addition to this, the State Minister revealed that the bone of contention was borne as a result of the criteria employed in the selection of the TFG's constitution making committee members.

 

"In Puntland we do not select people on the 4.5 strategy and do not recognize it or any similar selection criteria," Dr. Jimale explained." We select people basing on their qualifications, experience and professional achievements."

 

The State Minister reiterated the need for the TFG to include representatives from Puntland on the constitution making committee and suggested either replacing some of the current committee members with Puntland representatives or by increasing the membership of the committee so as to include Puntland in the process.

 

It was agreed that the grounds for contention presented by H.E Dr. Abdi Hassan Jimale were sound and promised to convey the message to their colleagues.

 

Dr. Jimale clearly outlined Puntland's support for the Civic Education component but regretted its relation to the existing contentions descended from the initial processes of the Federal constitution development.

 

Finally, an in-depth discussion ensued between the State minister, the delegation and the Office of the Presidential Advisor on Media Affairs. Information was shared on viable strategies for the implementation of civic education with regard to the constitution. The discussions centered on the effectiveness of various media tools as well as methodologies for developing messages that would resonate with the people of Puntland.

 

The session was wrapped up warmly with plans for further correspondence and consultation as the delegation departed.

 

The mission of the Somalia Constitution Making Support Project is to support the Somali stakeholders of the process in delivering a new constitution that supported, reflects and represents the Somali people's views of governance systems, rights and duties in their nation.

 

Source: puntland-gov.net