Dr Matui said the custom recording programme is not an ad hoc undertaking but was guided by the Commission\u2019s Underlying Law Research and Monitoring Strategy and Action Plan 2021\u20132031.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also highlighted the importance of the Fifth National Goal and Directive Principle, \u201cPapua New Guinean Ways,\u201d and the vision of the Constitutional Planning Committee in developing a home-grown Constitution suited to the country\u2019s circumstances and aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n West New Britain Provincial Administrator Mr. Leo Mapmani welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the provincial government\u2019s support to CLRC over the two weeks of custom recording. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The programme began in Central Province, where CLRC completed the recording of customs from 34 language groups in 2025. The exercise was subsequently undertaken in Jiwaka Province, covering its four main language groups and completed in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n West New Britain is now the third province to undergo comprehensive custom recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Commission undertook preparatory visits to West New Britain in 2025 and 2026, including consultations with the West New Britain Provincial Government, relevant agencies and identified participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CLRC also conducted desktop research using information and reports from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) to assist in establishing the number of language groups in the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The current recording exercise will run from the 08th<\/sup> to 23rd<\/sup> October 2026, with the substantive interviews expected to be completed within approximately two weeks. The information collected will then undergo verification and vetting by the Commission before being compiled into formal reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The completed documentation will contribute to CLRC\u2019s monitoring of the development of the Underlying Law and provide a resource for legal practitioners, researchers, academics and the courts where customary principles are relevant to the development and application of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The West New Britain Custom Recording Exercise is being undertaken as a joint project between CLRC and the Australia\u2013Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n CLRC acknowledged the support of APLJ, the West New Britain Provincial Government, relevant government agencies, traditional and community leaders, and the participants who will contribute their knowledge and experiences to the exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Commission said the successful completion of the West New Britain programme will contribute to its broader national objective of progressively documenting customary laws and practices across all 22 provinces of Papua New Guinea and strengthening the foundation for the continuing development of the country\u2019s Underlying Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) has officially launched its Custom Recording Exercise in West New Britain Province, marking<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clrc.gov.pg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Image-3-1024x683.jpg\")
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