PNGBLOGS

WE owe Sir Michael Somare for what he has done for PNG.  He has mastered the art of uniting a nation of diverse cultures. The best gift Sir Michael has given PNG is to ensure the Constitution has not  been compromised. He also gave us a 40-year blueprint called Vision 2050. The amended Prime Minister and NEC Act by parliament to unseat him should be interpreted and clarified by the courts.   Sir Michael is the legitimate East Sepik regional member. The East Sepik provincial government’s Supreme Court reference showed the confidence East Sepiks have in Sir Michael. He must be reinstated as MP. Once he has been reinstated, I urge Sir Michael to lead an effective opposition to keep a check and balance on the government. I appeal to all MPs to give our founding father an honourable exit after the writs are issued in April. I urge the East Sepiks and the Somare family to allow Sir Michael to retire. He has been bestowed the title of the “father of the nation”. No one can match his achieveme

WE owe Sir Michael Somare for what he has done for PNG.  He has mastered the art of uniting a nation of diverse cultures. The best gift Sir Michael has given PNG is to ensure the Constitution has not  been compromised. He also gave us a 40-year blueprint called Vision 2050. The amended Prime Minister and NEC Act by parliament to unseat him should be interpreted and clarified by the courts.   Sir Michael is the legitimate East Sepik regional member. The East Sepik provincial government’s Supreme Court reference showed the confidence East Sepiks have in Sir Michael. He must be reinstated as MP. Once he has been reinstated, I urge Sir Michael to lead an effective opposition to keep a check and balance on the government. I appeal to all MPs to give our founding father an honourable exit after the writs are issued in April. I urge the East Sepiks and the Somare family to allow Sir Michael to retire. He has been bestowed the title of the “father of the nation”. No one can match his

By PETER DONIGI Both the  O’Neill camp and the Somare camp claim that the Constitution must be upheld. There is no question about the desire of both parties to uphold the Constitution. Many other community leaders also expressed similar sentiments. The problem however, is the nature of the constitutional law. No one has yet expressed what the constitutional law says about this conflict. People use phrases like “uphold constitutional law” or “respect the rule of law” or “respect the ruling of the court” to justify their positions. What is the constitutional law that must be upheld and respected? I will try to be brief in my explanation. First, the constitution provides for separation of powers between the three arms of government. This is provided for in Section 99 of the Constitution. Second, separation of powers means simply that no arm of government must interfere with the workings of the other arm of government. Third, I have read the orders of the Supreme Court. I have

By PETER DONIGI Both the  O’Neill camp and the Somare camp claim that the Constitution must be upheld. There is no question about the desire of both parties to uphold the Constitution. Many other community leaders also expressed similar sentiments. The problem however, is the nature of the constitutional law. No one has yet expressed what the constitutional law says about this conflict. People use phrases like “uphold constitutional law” or “respect the rule of law” or “respect the ruling of the court” to justify their positions. What is the constitutional law that must be upheld and respected? I will try to be brief in my explanation. First, the constitution provides for separation of powers between the three arms of government. This is provided for in Section 99 of the Constitution. Second, separation of powers means simply that no arm of government must interfere with the workings of the other arm of government. Third, I have read the orders of the Supreme Court. I

PNG should be proud that our West Minister Parliamentary System of Government has come of age and matured and is very vibrant. The recent constitutional crisis has truly demonstrated that. The Laws and Courts do not exist in a vacuum. In PNG the Judges need to understand and know that the current political, economic, social and cultural environment must be taken into consideration so that justice is not only be done but justice is seen to be done with the wider community perception. When considering all the factors that led to the recent constitutional crisis, the final analysis is that the Supreme Court Decision went overboard beyond the prescribed constitutional powers reinstating the Grand Chief as PM, we all know that a mistake made by Parliament can only be corrected by the Parliament itself. That is what exactly has happened and though the Parliament the people have spoken and the majority rules in a democratic society such as ours. Namba Wape Ulutange A Political Obs

PNG should be proud that our West Minister Parliamentary System of Government has come of age and matured and is very vibrant. The recent constitutional crisis has truly demonstrated that. The Laws and Courts do not exist in a vacuum. In PNG the Judges need to understand and know that the current political, economic, social and cultural environment must be taken into consideration so that justice is not only be done but justice is seen to be done with the wider community perception. When considering all the factors that led to the recent constitutional crisis, the final analysis is that the Supreme Court Decision went overboard beyond the prescribed constitutional powers reinstating the Grand Chief as PM, we all know that a mistake made by Parliament can only be corrected by the Parliament itself. That is what exactly has happened and though the Parliament the people have spoken and the majority rules in a democratic society such as ours. Namba Wape Ulutange A Poli