THE "WHAT IF" ON THE OUTCOME OF THE SUPREME COURT REFERENCE...AND THE SURPRISE CASE..

An opinion piece by WILSON PUNIM

All 110 MPs will be lying if they said that the impending Supreme Court decision on the election of James Marape as Prime Minister, has no bearing in politics as it is playing out right at this very moment.
.
All of them, on both sides of the house, including the middle bench, have the "WHAT IF" question playing at the back of their minds and is dictating how they hold themselves out among their piers. The reason is simple - the stakes will be high, given the fact that the outcome of this Supreme Court decision will determine who will be Prime Minister going into the elections in 2022.
.
If the Supreme Court finds no illegality in process applied to elect the Prime Minister then it is a certainty that James Marape will rule as PM into the 2022 national election. Any further moves thereafter will lack support, given the proximity of the national elections. Those currently in government will not heed any such moves or calls and sacrifice their comfort zones with elections approaching.
.
On the other hand, if the decision is made in favour of the Opposition in that the election of the Prime Minister on the floor of Parliament is nullified, then the Supreme Court may order the Speaker of the House to convene Parliament to elect a new Prime Minister.
.
This is the "WHAT IF" scenario that is dictating the conduct of all members of Parliament right now. (There is a surprise third case scenario and that will be discussed further below.)
.
Both sides of the House are confident of a favourable decision and are projecting it that way, although the Prime Minister has shown no apprehension of concern publicly by going ahead with the business of running a country.
.
No one in the Opposition will deny that moves are being made, raids are being planned and calculations are being made in anticipation of a decision in their favour. They are entitled to do that since that is what Oppositions do, given such possibilities.
.
There is O'Neill and Namah on the one side and there are three or four currently on the government side apart from Prime Minister Marape, who will all be possible contenders.
.
O'Neill has said he will make sure that Namah becomes PM, but I would think that what was said while under the weather may hold true for another time. In this case, O'Neill knows that governments are always broken and formed from within. His demise is a case on point. So the logical choice would be one currently on the government side. Who that is, is anybody's guess.
.
With Marape referring to Namah as a proxy, one can only assume that this is a consensus on the government side, especially when the Opposition has raised issues that are only trivial and not weightier matters such a policy. Namah's chances these time around remain bleak.
.
Now to our third case scenario.
.
If the Supreme Court finds that the withdrawal of Peter O'Neill as a nominee alone is improper, then Court is within its powers to order that Parliament be resumed to elect one of the three nominees as Prime Minister. Then, it is Marape, O'Neill and Mekere and we go back to the instant immediately prior to O'Neill's withdrawal of his nomination.
.
Who then would be elected Prime Minister? It could be O'Neill or it could be Marape again. It could even be Sir Mekere in a three way run. The fact that he is said to retire at the end of this Parliament and nearing his statutory the time limitation could weigh heavily in his favour.
.
Who knows, all political party leaders with plans (and egos) to try for the top job themselves after the 2022 national elections may find Mekere an ideal choice considering their own interest. It could be "larim em holim tasol lo liklik time na bai mipla kam bek lo 2022 na resis lo vacant seat." Fair and square with every one on a level playing field.

It would therefore be advisable for Sir Mekere Morauta to intervene in the Supreme Court Reference now and join as a party because such a decision by the Supreme Court is a possibility that would directly affect him.
.
In fact, Sir Mekere would do himself a favour in getting his lawyers to argue for such an outcome as described above. He cannot expect the government and the opposition's lawyers to do it for him. The days of someone doing it for you are long gone.
.
If the Court decides in the government's favour, and Marape remains as Prime Minister, he will be around for quite sometime and it would be advisable for any MP to stick with the Hela man.

Comments

Post a Comment

Please free to leave comments.

Popular posts from this blog

HIGHLANDS FRAUD F*CKS RUNNING GOVERNMENT AGENCY,,,

Image
A Fraudster and unqualified person has been shortlisted for NEC submission for the position of CEPA Managing Director. The candidate in question is Jude Tukulyia. His academic credentials are subject to scrutiny. Further investigation is required to verify the authenticity and legitimacy of his qualifications, particularly the reported diploma in accounting, Bachelor of Laws, MBA from Divine Word and UPNG respectively. It is very suspicious and unprofessional  when the Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change, Hon Simo Kilepa, wrote to UPNG Vice Chancellor asking to confirm Jude’s questioned education qualifications. This very due diligence work is the core responsibility of the Public Service Commission and Department of Personnel Management. What authority does the portfolio minister have to write to the Universities? Dumbfounding indeed if one asks. Ulterior motives written all over the letter. This amounts to  Questionable Academic Qualifications of Mr Tukulyia.    
Read more

AUGUSTINE MANO PNG'S PREMIER CORPORATE CROOK

Image
by  MICHAEL J. PASSINGAN In a significant setback for Mineral Resources Development Corporation (MRDC), the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has dismissed the company's appeal to stop criminal investigations into its dealings with landowner funds held in the Pacific Balance Fund (PBF). The court ruled that MRDC's appeal was an "abuse of process" and ordered the company to pay costs of the proceedings. MRDC, a unit holder in PBF, had taken legal action against the National Court's decision to dismiss its case, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter. However, the Supreme Court disagreed and held that MRDC's appeal was nothing more than an attempt to interfere with the police's criminal investigative process. The court found that MRDC had no authority to conducted its own investigation into the activities of the Melanesian Trustee Services Limited (MTSL), the fund manager of PBF, and that its actions were in violation of the Trust Deed
Read more

PNG, VERY RICH YET STILL A VERY VERY POOR COUNTRY

Image
by GARY MONDULAME Papua New Guinea (PNG), a nation blessed with abundant natural resources, continues to grapple with economic challenges that belie its potential wealth. The nation's economic narrative is a paradox—rich in resources yet burdened by poverty. The explanation for this paradox lies not only in economic mismanagement but also in deep-seated corruption that has permeated the political landscape since independence in 1975. Following its independence from Australia, PNG was entrusted to leaders who lacked a vision for a holistic national development. This absence of foresight is evident from the lack of long-term development plans that could have distributed the country’s wealth fairly across all regions and communities. Successive governments failed to establish foundational strategies such as building satellite townships or creating robust rural housing schemes. Instead, they resorted to short-term, reactive measures that did not foster sustainable growth. The nascent l
Read more

BLIND LEADING THE BLIND, WHY THE PNG ECONOMY STILL SUCKS

Image
Elizabeth Genia, Acting Governor Bank of PNG (BPNG) by MICHAEL JOSEPH PASSINGAN The economy of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is at a crucial juncture. Despite some signs of recovery, the country faces several structural challenges that continue to impede its economic progress. The March 2024 Monetary Policy Statement from the Bank of Papua New Guinea sheds light on these issues, providing a comprehensive overview of the economic landscape and the policy responses being implemented to navigate through these turbulent times. In 2023, PNG's economy grew by a modest 1.4%, a significant slowdown from the 5.2% growth witnessed in 2022. This tepid growth is largely attributed to delays in major projects and ongoing economic issues that have not been fully resolved. The anticipated growth for 2024 is around 3.0%, buoyed by the resumption of production at the Porgera gold mine. While this marks an improvement, it remains subdued compared to the potential of this resource-rich nation. One of the mo
Read more

James Marape's Missteps Openly Exposed at Australian Forum

Image
by  MICHAEL J. PASSINGAN  In a recent event that highlighted the complexities of international diplomacy and governance, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, faced a challenging situation during his appearance at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia. The Lowy Institute, known for its role as an independent think tank focusing on international policy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, provided a platform for a candid assessment of Marape's governance. Following his formal address, Marape engaged in a dialogue with Dr. Michael Fullilove AM, the Executive Director of the Institute. Dr. Fullilove, a respected figure in public and international policy, scrutinized Marape's past promises and statements, contrasting them with the current state of affairs in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The discussion took a critical turn as Dr. Fullilove revisited Marape's 2019 speech at the same venue, where Marape had outlined his vision for PNG in a speech titled “A New Boo
Read more

MARAPE & PAITA ABOUT TO SIGN AWAY PNG GOLD

Image
By: Andrew Arthur Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and his planning minister Reinbo Paita are the parties behind the theft of all Papua New Guinea’s gold for the next 100 years! They have given approval for the STATE of Papua New Guinea to sign away all gold rights to an Australian paper company in Refinery Holdings PTE LTD. First, they have done the deal with a paper company even before there is a LAW that says they have the right to do the deal. We see how the real manipulation works out. Marape and Paita now need to get the law passed by Parliament. The law is before the Parliament to set up Papua New Guinea’s first National Gold Corporation. The National Gold Corporation Bill first surfaced in 2012 but successive Government of Sir Michael Somare and Hon. Peter O’Neill, in their wisdom, had refused to pass this Bill as there have been some sinister motives and constitutional issues associated with the Bill. The new bill will allow Refinery Holdings LTD PTE to own 70% of the National
Read more

A Call for Local Ownership and Fairness

Image
by JUSTIN PARKER In recent discussions surrounding the establishment of a gold refinery in Papua New Guinea (PNG), concerns have been raised regarding various aspects of the proposed project. Spearheaded by foreign investors, the initiative has sparked debates over ownership, exclusivity, tax concessions, underwriting, management rights, control over currency, legal protections, and historical failures. These concerns, if unaddressed, could potentially undermine the interests of PNG and its people, particularly the hardworking alluvial miners who form the backbone of the nation's mining sector. At the heart of the issue lies the question of ownership. The proposed ownership structure, favoring foreign investors with a substantial 70% stake, raises eyebrows, especially considering PNG's past experiences with failed ventures like seabed mining. Instead of ceding majority control to foreign entities, many argue that PNG should assert full ownership over the refinery. With the coun
Read more