PNGBLOGS

By LEGAL EXPERT "Section 28 (1) of the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership is that the person alleged to have committed misconduct in office is suspended from duty. Suspension is automatic. The so called precedent in Somare's case was wrong in law and not a proper precedent. THE ACTUAL WORDINGS OF S 27 (1) IS: Where a matter has been referred to a tribunal under Section 27 the person alleged to have committed misconduct in office is suspended from duty. So the normal and proper practice is that when the charges are presented to the Tribunal, the suspension automatically takes effect. The Somare precedent was wrong in law." The decision to suspend the then Prime Minister & Regional member for East Sepik Province Sir Michael Somare for 14 days without pay starting from April 4th 2011 was made by a three-member Leadership Tribunal on March 24th 2011. Three foreign Judges (from Australia, New Zealand & the UK) Roger Gyles, Sir B

By JASON K WAUGLE   PGK54.7 million allegedly claimed by prominent Law Firms in 2013 “based on political directives without the appropriate legal clearances from the Solicitor Gene ral or Attorney General” “The allegations that the payments made to Paul Paraka Lawyers fraudulently is denied out rightly and refuted,” former Deputy Secretary of Operations at the Finance Department Jacob Yafai (suspended at the time) told Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc the Chief Secretary to Government who was then acting as Finance Secretary in a letter dated June 23rd 2013. “The Department of Finance, of which I have served over almost 20 years under different secretaries does not pay or settle State liabilities, unless there is evidence of work done supported by statement of invoices or bills addressed to the State and appropriately cleared by the Line Departments including appropriate legal advice. A payment could be categorized fraudulent if the payments are made without any evidence of s

Triumph Heritage Empowerment (T.H.E) Party leader and Kandep MP Don Polye today (Sunday) said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s continued occupancy of the office of the Prime Minister amidst serious allegations of misconduct is very destructive to the democratic principles and the country’s structures of governance. Mr Polye said O’Neill is not just an ordinary Parliamentarian but he is the Prime Minister of the country. “No Prime Minister of this country since independence has gone through such a great length to insulate himself from scrutiny and accountability,” he said. He added that O’Neill has a criminal warrant of arrest and a leadership tribunal hanging over him now. “These are not just mere allegations. Respective competent authorities have considered the weight of the evidence and have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute him. It is, therefore, an advance stage of the prosecution process,” said Polye. He said O’Neill has demonstrated that he would go

By BRYAN KRAMER Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has raised concerns that news of the public prosecutor's letter informing him about the referral was leaked on social media before it was officially announced. He also raised concerns that few individuals have been obtaining confidential information from government departments earlier before public announcements are being made. He said he was forced to call a press conference to address the issue after posts on Facebook from Bryan Kramer, who previously ran for a parliamentary seat in Madang province." He said an investigative team will be formed to investigate such practices. Before I provide a in-depth analysis of the Public Prosecutor's decision to refer Prime Minister to face leadership tribunal, canvassing the issue of his likely suspension, or dismissal from office I will first respond to the concerns and contentious issue raised by both the PM and his legal team of advisor's that his referral was controversially

AN ESSAY By: TUGUYAWINI LAITEPO Our beloved country Papua New Guinea, Usually stylized and called PNG land of the Unexpected is very unique and diverse as we all know. In recent times there has been much outcry from within sections of PNG against the Trans-Island highway proposed by the O’Neil government as well as the continuity of Tribal fights in the highlands region, specifically Hela Province, Enga and southern Highlands. Many have expressed their opinions for and against those issues and each individual has a right to their own personal opinions. It has come to this writer’s attention that many citizens’ views against the above mentioned issues trickle down to the notion of ‘Plesman, Uncivilised,’ attitude of the highlanders and citizens disdain for such behaviours in Port Moresby and PNG as a whole in this day and age. Many have noted that the highlands populace has yet to develop and stereotype them as being ‘Way back’ and still stuck in the Stone Age. This Paper will try its