By Fabian Hakalits – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Acting Parliamentary Speaker, Aide Ganasi, yesterday rejected the Vote of No Confidence Motion filed by the opposition.
The Acting Speaker told parliament a review by the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Private Business found that the Vote of Confidence Motion failed to meet procedural requiremen’s for tabling.
“The document submitted by [the] opposition may not have contained the required signatures under Section 14 of the Constitution with some denying to have signed,” he said.
Ganasi added the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Private Business also established that one member is currently suspended from office; Vanimo-Green MP, Belden Namah, and that prevented him from signing and supporting the Motion.
Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru, who signed three copies of the initial motion submitted on November 2, 2015, didn’t sign or support the current of March 22, 2016.
“There was inadequate support for the motion because it failed to meet minimum requiremen’s, required by Section 145 of the PNG Constitution,” Ganasi said.
“Furthermore, the committee after careful consideration found there may be possible breach of parliamentary privilege in the unauthorised use of member’s signature, with this matter, be referred to the Permanent Parliamentary Privileges Committee for further investigation against the Deputy Opposition Leader, Sam Basil.
“This includes a wording imputed, bias in decision making, because the chair was a member of the People’s National Congress Party,” Gansai said.
The Acting Speaker told the People’s National Congress Party, seeking proper interpretation on Sections 142, 143 and 145 of the Constitution, filed parliament a Supreme Court reference.
The chair further advised all members of parliament that no more Vote of No Confidence Motions will be entertained until the Supreme Court completes the reference.
