By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the matter filed by Opposition Leader, Don Polye, and has directed the Parliamentary Speaker to recall parliament within five days to debate the motion of a Vote of No Confidence against Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.
Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, Deputy Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika, and Justice Colin Makail said Acting Parliamentary Speaker, Aide Ganasi, acted in an unconstitutional manner and denied the rights of fellow members of parliament in adjourning parliament and not acting on the motion on June 8 of this year.
The court described the actions of the Acting Speaker as setting a dangerous trend, and a decision that put the constitution at stake.
They added that whether or not a Vote of No Confidence motion is successful, it is a constitutional matter that has to be tabled in parliament.
Parliament is now expected to reconvene from today through until Saturday.
The court found that the Acting Speaker and Chairman of the Private Business Committee failed to clear the notice before it was tabled in parliament; therefore the members were not informed about the motion.
The Vote of No Confidence tabled on July 7 and 8 was found to have been complied with the five technical requirements of the constitutions.
It has the name of the alternated Prime Minister, and one-tenth of the MP’s has signed. It has the signatures of the person who moved the motion and that of the seconder, and the signature of the MP who signed the motion.
The Supreme Court warned the speaker to act responsibly, and parliamentarians to perform parliamentary business independently.
