We’ll translate political decisions into law, not make them, says Barker-Vormawor

Lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has clarified the role of the Constitution Review Implementation Committee in the reform process. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Mr Barker-Vormawor stated that the committee's mandate is to translate political decisions into legal instruments, and it is not empowered to make policy decisions.

He emphasized that the committee is a technical body, not a policy body, and its role is to monitor stakeholders' views and relay them to the government during the reform process. The committee cannot force constitutional reform without broad agreement and must facilitate discussions among stakeholders to build consensus. Once a political consensus is reached, the committee's drafting instructions will reflect that agreement.

The final decision on which proposals will appear in constitutional amendment bills lies with Parliament and political parties, who provide the political direction for the committee's technical work. Mr Barker-Vormawor likened the committee's role to that of the Electoral Commission or a midwife, stating that its responsibility is to facilitate and deliver the process rather than determine its outcome.