PM adjourns Parliament, six bills before committee

SolomonStarNews.com, Published: 02 November 2016

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has adjourned Parliament to November 14.

Six bills will be ready for deliberation by Parliament at the Second Reading stage when it resumes its final sitting for this year on the 14th of November.

The bills- Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill 2016, Land Surveyors Bill 2016, Child and Welfare Bill 2016, Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016, Pacific Games 2023 Bill 2016 and Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority Bill 2016- were put through the First Reading Stage when Parliament convened yesterday morning for the final 2016 session.

After the first Reading of the Bills, Prime Minister moved a Motion of Special Adjournment seeking approval of the House to postpone the meeting to November 14 to allow the Bills and Legislation Committee to inquire into these bills and also for Cabinet to deliberate on the 2017 Budget and other bills to be brought to Parliament this session.

When moving the motion, the Prime Minister said:

“I would like to move that the adjournment of Parliament on Tuesday 2nd November 2016-the present meeting- shall stand adjourned till Monday 14th November 2016.

“The reason is that a number of bills have been submitted to Parliament and the Bills and Legislation Committee will need to inquire into before we can deliberate on them at the Second Reading stage when we resume our present meeting on November 14.

“This motion will also give a little more time for the Government to look at the (2017) Budget.

“There are also other bills including the Dual Citizenship Bill that still need to be submitted to Parliament. So we need that space of time to complete these tasks.”

November 2, 2016 0

PNG Opposition Plans New Move Against PM

Pasifik.News – The Papua New Guinea Opposition says it is still determined to remove Peter O’Neill as Prime Minister before the next election, despite failing in its motion of no-confidence.

Parliament last week voted overwhelmingly to keep Mr O’Neill in the job, 85 to 21.

But Opposition spokesman Wanpis Ako says people are demanding change. “We will push for another vote of no-confidence without naming an alternative Prime Minister when parliament resumes on August 9,” he told Pasifik News.

That would be inside the one-year grace period protecting the Government from no-confidence motions, but the Opposition believes it can still push for a caretaker leader.

It also intends to take legal action against the Speaker and Parliamentary Clerk for not allowing more MPs to debate last week’s motion.

But the Prime Minister says it’s time to get on with business.

“Despite the political events of the past two weeks, and recent disquiet in some sections of the community, matters have all culminated with the vote in the Parliament and this has been resolved decisively,” Mr O’Neill said.

It may not be that simple. Apart from the Opposition, some community groups are still pushing for him to step down and face questioning over allegations of corruption.

On his Facebook wall, the Secretary of the National Doctors’ Association Sam Yockopua insisted their action is not in breach of PNG law. “It is instead civil disobedience exercised as concerned professional citizens, which is allowed for, acting to display their conscience using their democratic and constitutional rights,” he wrote.

Mr O’Neill will soon unveil a new ministerial line-up made necessary by the defection of some MPs.
“The new lineup will place our Government in an even stronger position to communicate with relevant parties and resolve outstanding issues,” he said.

July 24, 2016 0

Vote of No Confidence Defeated

EMTV – 22/07/2016 Serah Aupong

The Vote of No Confidence has been defeated with an overwhelming 85 to 21 votes in favour of Peter O’Neill as Prime Minister in today’s special parliament sitting.

The opposition came into the chamber knowing they didn’t have the numbers to win but used the opportunity to air their frustrations against the Prime Minister.

At the end of the session, the opposition left disappointed not only at losing the vote but in what they claim as suppression to fully debate the motion.

The government did what they promised, hold together and defeat the Vote of No Confidence. However before the vote was taken, there was over an hour of heated debate which included pointing of fingers, out of order point of orders and swearing.

Keeping with the specifics of the court order, the speaker allowed debate before the vote was taken. Sam Basil as sponsor of the motion outlined the opposition’s reasons for the motion which included, the lack of debate of the 2016 budget, implementation of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Paraka payment issue, disbanding of taskforce sweep and the LNG revenue.

Then Kelly Naru, who had declared allegiance to the rule of law during the week of lobbying, outlined legal reasons for siding with O’Neill.

Following this, Kavieng member Ben Micah talked about telling the truth where he accused members of parliament of not taking into consideration the truth about issues that affect the nation.

From the government, leader of Government Business and Finance Minister, James Marape, was the only one who spoke formally during the debate.

He said the motion was “hollow” and was used to cause instability and chaos. He said the government has delivered on 90 per cent of its promises.

Towards the end of Marape’s speech, the speaker stopped debate and moved to take the vote.

This did not go down well with the opposition who still had plenty more to say.

Member for Vanimo Green, Belden Namah, accused the speaker of hijacking the parliament procedure.

His refusal to sit down, and the ensuring screaming match that followed from both sides of the house. In an attempt to restore order on the floor of parliament, the speaker stood up. According to parliamentary standing orders, when the speaker stands all members are to sit down.

After reminding the house of that standing order, the parliament quietened down and the vote was taken.

July 22, 2016 0

BREAKING: O’Neill Survives Vote of No Confidence

EMTV – 22/07/2016 Scott Waide 1586

The PNC led coalition of Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, has defeated a long awaited Vote of No Confidence motion, with 85 out of 106 members voting in favour of the government while 21 members of the opposition voted for the removal of the Prime Minister.

In a highly anticipated session peppered with personal accusations, colourful language and sarcasm delivered by both sides, the debate prior to the vote degenerated into a cacophony of yelling and more accusations.

Vanimo-Green MP, Belden Namah, expressed annoyance at the speaker saying adequate debate had not been allowed.

The disorder in the house forced the speaker to rise from his chair, as per parliamentary standing order 49, to call for order.

Earlier, the debate was opened by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Sam Basil. In a series of pointed statements he attacked the Prime Minister over his handling of the economy, LNG revenue and the allegations levelled against him.

“LNG revenues aren’t reaching our shores. Businesses owed money by government aren’t being paid,” he said.

In response to the opposition debate, Finance Minister, James Marape, told the house that ongoing attempts for the Vote of No Confidence had affected Papua New Guinea’s international image.

“Investor confidence has been impacted by headlines on the media and social media,” Marape said.

Marape’s statements come on the back of a statement by the Prime Minister yesterday, calling for stability in government.

Government numbers now remain solid with less than 10 months to go until national elections.

July 22, 2016 0

PNG Prime Minister’s Indonesia visit raises questions over West Papua stance

By DANIEL DRAGESET

Spearhead Group (MSG) meets in New Caledonia to decide if the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation will be granted membership.

Support
The timing of O’Neill’s Indonesia visit has raised questions on Papua New Guinea’s support for West Papua, Radio New Zealand International reports.

O’Neill has stated that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, but has voiced concern about human rights abuses in West Papua.

Several reports detail torture and abuses against pro-independence activists in West Papua.

Border issues include people from West Papua fleeing to Papua New Guinea.

O’Neill said he looks forward to discussing these issues with Yodhoyono.

“We are encouraged by the invitation from the Indonesian Government, through the president, for the first time in its history asking Papua New Guinea to help in some of those issues in West Papua,” he said.

Consensus
The decision to include the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation in the MSG has received strong support ahead of the upcoming summit with the exception of Papua New Guinea.

Decisions in the MSG are usually reached by consensus. If Indonesia succeeds in lobbying Papua New Guinea, it might persuade the country to refrain from supporting West Papuan inclusion in the MSG, according Radio New Zealand International.

The president of the self-styled republic of West Papua, Forkorus Yaboisembut, made an appeal to MSG, the Pacific Islands Forum and the African, Pacific and Caribbean group of states to recognise his country almost three weeks ago

June 30, 2015 0