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The Sydney Morning Herald Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Michael Somare, has announced he will step aside as the country's leader so he can face a leadership tribunal regarding alleged misconduct in office. Sir Michael issued a media release late yesterday outlining his plan to ''voluntarily step aside'' after his lawyers earlier in the day failed to stop the public prosecutor advising the country's Chief Justice to set up a leadership tribunal. A newly appointed deputy prime minister, Sam Abal, will assume full function and responsibility of the office of the prime minister while Sir Michael attends to clearing his name, the media release said. ''While the supreme court has yet to give the PM an opportunity to be heard on his reference, the public prosecutor has proceeded to make a referral. The PM respects the due processes and will continue to avail himself to hearings.'' Sir Michael referred to yesterday's court debacle as a '

The Sydney Morning Herald Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Michael Somare, has announced he will step aside as the country's leader so he can face a leadership tribunal regarding alleged misconduct in office. Sir Michael issued a media release late yesterday outlining his plan to ''voluntarily step aside'' after his lawyers earlier in the day failed to stop the public prosecutor advising the country's Chief Justice to set up a leadership tribunal. A newly appointed deputy prime minister, Sam Abal, will assume full function and responsibility of the office of the prime minister while Sir Michael attends to clearing his name, the media release said. ''While the supreme court has yet to give the PM an opportunity to be heard on his reference, the public prosecutor has proceeded to make a referral. The PM respects the due processes and will continue to avail himself to hearings.'' Sir Michael referred to yesterday's court debacle as a

PAUL REINBARA We know now partly on what transpired on the floor of the last session when Parliament rose to appoint Paulias Matane, it is ironic to think that 8 years in one position as the Speaker of the House would at least instil some experience in the running of the Parliament but our Speaker Jeffrey Nape is somewhat a total villager and is not even capable in seeking advice before making a ruling. Speaker Jeffrey Nape had the Parliament Clerk Mr. Don Pandan a very experienced public officer who in the past has worked under the likes of now Rigo MP Mr. Ano Pala and former Chief Ombudsman Mr. Simon Pentanu.  He has heaps of lawyers working in Parliament under him to which he can seek advice given the limited knowledge he has in running the affairs of Parliament.  Yet he chose not to and allowed to be bullied around by the government and allowed for the “nomination” of Sir Paulias to be declared the winner without having a secret ballot. What carnage and what a blow to the Parliame

PAUL REINBARA We know now partly on what transpired on the floor of the last session when Parliament rose to appoint Paulias Matane, it is ironic to think that 8 years in one position as the Speaker of the House would at least instil some experience in the running of the Parliament but our Speaker Jeffrey Nape is somewhat a total villager and is not even capable in seeking advice before making a ruling. Speaker Jeffrey Nape had the Parliament Clerk Mr. Don Pandan a very experienced public officer who in the past has worked under the likes of now Rigo MP Mr. Ano Pala and former Chief Ombudsman Mr. Simon Pentanu.  He has heaps of lawyers working in Parliament under him to which he can seek advice given the limited knowledge he has in running the affairs of Parliament.  Yet he chose not to and allowed to be bullied around by the government and allowed for the “nomination” of Sir Paulias to be declared the winner without having a secret ballot. What carnage and what a blow to the Parl

National Reports Sir J wants Somare to step down as PM Former prime minister and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan has called on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to step down and allow the law to take its course. He said over the weekend that Sir Michael, as a founding father of the nation and a prominent Melanesian leader, must gracefully allow and uphold the integrity of the judiciary to deliberate without fear and allow the due processes of law to run its course. Sir Julius said he was encouraged by Sir Michael’s willingness to allow due process of law to deliberate. “He will have the opportunity to legally defend and prove his innocence and clear his name before the people and the nation, rather than contest and circumvent the normal system under the Leadership Code law, which in itself implies his possible guilt. “Many peers, including former governor-general Vincent Eri, myself, deputy PM, ministers and MPs have gone through and accepted the outcomes of leadership tribunals.”

National Reports Sir J wants Somare to step down as PM Former prime minister and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan has called on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to step down and allow the law to take its course. He said over the weekend that Sir Michael, as a founding father of the nation and a prominent Melanesian leader, must gracefully allow and uphold the integrity of the judiciary to deliberate without fear and allow the due processes of law to run its course. Sir Julius said he was encouraged by Sir Michael’s willingness to allow due process of law to deliberate. “He will have the opportunity to legally defend and prove his innocence and clear his name before the people and the nation, rather than contest and circumvent the normal system under the Leadership Code law, which in itself implies his possible guilt. “Many peers, including former governor-general Vincent Eri, myself, deputy PM, ministers and MPs have gone through and accepted the outcomes of leadership trib

PAUL REINBARA The recent Supreme Court Ruling on the reappointment of Sir Paulias Matane on Friday leaves a lot to be asked about this current government’s direction. There were a lot of questions asked when this matter was brought before parliament and if the parliamentary process to elect a new GG was stretched to its limits before Matane was drawn as the appointee. Between the two groups in Parliament we now see no debate at all, there is less time spent in addressing issues affecting the country, the game of cat and mouse and the cunning ability by the government to use its power in numbers with the usual puppet the Speaker have their ways before anything is even argued and a proper debate is held. Papua New Guinea needs to know the process we know called democracy and what it means in the Parliament, to me it sounds more to demonstrate craziness. Right now we have a bunch of monkeys in a zoo the so called House Tambaran fighting over bananas. We are fed with lies by cohorts such a