by Stanley Ove Jr – EM TV, Port Moresby
Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has slammed the proposed parliament reform put forward by the Parliamentary Speaker, Theo Zurenuoc.
Sir Michael has also been backed by representatives of the Catholic Professionals Society (CPS), Trade Union President, John Paska, and Executive Director of the National Cultural Commission, Dr Jacob Simet.
The Grand Chief said what Zurenuoc is proposing is unconstitutional.
He says the speaker has no right to select a few people to represent the views of all Papua New Guineans in the parliament.
President of CPS, Paul Harricknen, said the move raises many constitutional questions. Harricknen said the transformation is not a simple cleaning and redecorating of the parliament.
“What it means to us is that it is a major step in the country’s history and the country’s 40 years of independence to move ideologically from our traditional cultural constitution foundation to a new belief which has not been shared to the people of PNG,” Harricknen said.
Similar views were shared by Trade Union President, John Paska.
“There are limits to our constitution and the speaker has gone past the limitations with his plans to reform the parliament,” Paska said.
Meanwhile, Director of the National Cultural Commission, Dr Jacob Simet, said if the speaker is aiming to remove all cultural objects in the parliament then it indirectly applies to all cultures and traditions in the country, which is against both local and international laws.
