PNGBLOGS

NATIONAL EDITORIAL THE legal advice provided to the prime minister on the appointment of the governor-general is seriously flawed. The actions of Parliament in the recent controversial re-appointment of the governor-general were contrary to the explicit directions provided by the Constitution. The appointment of Grand Chief Sir Paulias Matane for a second term as governor-general, therefore, cannot be held to be legal. The legal advice or, as it turned out, the legal position adopted by the government and Parliament, is a clear misreading of section 87 of the Constitution and should not stand any serious contest of it in a court of law. The part of the Constitution cited as the basis for the advice is section 87(5). Clearly, and in plain English, that entire section deals only with “qualifications for appointment” to the post of governor-general. It makes no mention of the process for the “appointment of the GG” which is, again, very clearly spelled out in the following section. Sectio

NATIONAL EDITORIAL THE legal advice provided to the prime minister on the appointment of the governor-general is seriously flawed. The actions of Parliament in the recent controversial re-appointment of the governor-general were contrary to the explicit directions provided by the Constitution. The appointment of Grand Chief Sir Paulias Matane for a second term as governor-general, therefore, cannot be held to be legal. The legal advice or, as it turned out, the legal position adopted by the government and Parliament, is a clear misreading of section 87 of the Constitution and should not stand any serious contest of it in a court of law. The part of the Constitution cited as the basis for the advice is section 87(5). Clearly, and in plain English, that entire section deals only with “qualifications for appointment” to the post of governor-general. It makes no mention of the process for the “appointment of the GG” which is, again, very clearly spelled out in the following section. Sect

South Pacific Post A STAGGERING K26 million “disappeared without a trace” from the Works Department - part of the money paid out for improvements and structures in the Highlands Highway Rehabilitation Program in Chimbu. The K26 million was part of the K54 million reportedly paid to the landowners for improvements and structures along the 20m corridors on the Highlands Highway between 2005 and 2006. “It is as if the money has sunk into a big hole. We can’t tell. There is not a single trace of it, we can’t account for this money,” Works Secretary Joel Luma said yesterday. Mr Luma said police could not carry out an investigation into the massive fraud involving the first payment of K54 million because their own investigation into the whole affair was incomplete. “We have names on the cheques but we do not have addresses and telephone numbers. How do you trace these payments? It is very hard because we can’t verify the payments,” Mr Luma said. Mr Luma said there was an investigation by pol

South Pacific Post A STAGGERING K26 million “disappeared without a trace” from the Works Department - part of the money paid out for improvements and structures in the Highlands Highway Rehabilitation Program in Chimbu. The K26 million was part of the K54 million reportedly paid to the landowners for improvements and structures along the 20m corridors on the Highlands Highway between 2005 and 2006. “It is as if the money has sunk into a big hole. We can’t tell. There is not a single trace of it, we can’t account for this money,” Works Secretary Joel Luma said yesterday. Mr Luma said police could not carry out an investigation into the massive fraud involving the first payment of K54 million because their own investigation into the whole affair was incomplete. “We have names on the cheques but we do not have addresses and telephone numbers. How do you trace these payments? It is very hard because we can’t verify the payments,” Mr Luma said. Mr Luma said there was an investigation