PNGBLOGS

SPEAKER of Parliament, Jeffery Nape, bowed to pressure from the Government to declare Sir Paulias Matane as Governor-General for a second term against advice from his own Parliamentary legal counsels. This is according to Parliamentary witnesses who said Mr Nape had been advised by his lawyers to seek a Supreme Court interpretation on the uncertainty surrounding Section 87(5) of the Constitution following a point of order raised by East Sepik Governor, Peter Wararu. They said this was to maintain the integrity of the Chair and the House in accordance with adopted and normal parliamentary best practices. They said despite clear advice also on maintaining the independence of the Chair, the Speaker announced the Government’s interpretation of the constitutional provision. Parliament had taken a vote on the eligibility of Sir Paulias as the incumbent Governor-General under the provision which saw him muster 84 votes with only 13 against. Mr Wararu’s point of order was for the Speaker’s rul

SPEAKER of Parliament, Jeffery Nape, bowed to pressure from the Government to declare Sir Paulias Matane as Governor-General for a second term against advice from his own Parliamentary legal counsels. This is according to Parliamentary witnesses who said Mr Nape had been advised by his lawyers to seek a Supreme Court interpretation on the uncertainty surrounding Section 87(5) of the Constitution following a point of order raised by East Sepik Governor, Peter Wararu. They said this was to maintain the integrity of the Chair and the House in accordance with adopted and normal parliamentary best practices. They said despite clear advice also on maintaining the independence of the Chair, the Speaker announced the Government’s interpretation of the constitutional provision. Parliament had taken a vote on the eligibility of Sir Paulias as the incumbent Governor-General under the provision which saw him muster 84 votes with only 13 against. Mr Wararu’s point of order was for the Speaker’

ACTNOW Prime Minister, Michael Somare, has a secret legislative plan that will make the proposed changes to the Leadership Code and even the recent amendments to the Environment Act seem relatively benign and insignificant. The PM is waiting for the opportunity to again by-pass proper Parliamentary process and bulldoze through legislation for a Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that will further impoverish rural Papua New Guineans and boost the profits of foreign multinational companies. The legislation will allow the government to declare key ports and coastal areas as Special Economic Zones where foreign companies can import goods duty free, enjoy lengthy tax holidays and avoid any minimum wage restrictions for the workers they employ. With this legislation the Prime Minister seems determined to further enslave his own people and consign them to a life of poverty while he lives the high life in the bosom of the foreign companies and governments he is allowing to plunder PNG. It is unders

ACTNOW Prime Minister, Michael Somare, has a secret legislative plan that will make the proposed changes to the Leadership Code and even the recent amendments to the Environment Act seem relatively benign and insignificant. The PM is waiting for the opportunity to again by-pass proper Parliamentary process and bulldoze through legislation for a Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that will further impoverish rural Papua New Guineans and boost the profits of foreign multinational companies. The legislation will allow the government to declare key ports and coastal areas as Special Economic Zones where foreign companies can import goods duty free, enjoy lengthy tax holidays and avoid any minimum wage restrictions for the workers they employ. With this legislation the Prime Minister seems determined to further enslave his own people and consign them to a life of poverty while he lives the high life in the bosom of the foreign companies and governments he is allowing to plunder PNG. It