Vote of No confidence to take place on Friday

Caption: Prime Minister Peter O'Neill making his way into the parliament chamber.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 17, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

IT was a session that left everyone on the edge of their seats as the country watched and listened in on one of the most anticipated votes of no confidence for the ninth parliament, where the Speaker of Parliament Theo Zurenouc introduced the motion for a vote of no confidence and adjourned Parliament for seven days to Friday July 22 for the vote to take place as per the standing order of the house.

With an opening prayer by the speaker for the recalled session, as ordered by the Supreme Court on July 12, setting the tone to proceedings- he highlighted the standing of all members before the people and not to the desires of any one individual.

The speaker addressed parliament on the nature surrounding the recalling of the house, making reference to the determination made by the Supreme Court on the motion of the vote of no confidence filed on the 7th of June meeting all technical requirements of the standing orders.

“The Supreme Court made certain declarations contained in the orders issued on Tuesday 12th July 2016- including a declaration that parliament’s decision in failing to conduct the meeting of parliament on 8th June 2016 in such a way as to facilitate the introduction of the said motion of no-confidence,” the speaker said.

“Thereby preventing debate by parliament on the no-confidence motion lodged on 7th June 2016, was unreasonable or inconsistent with or in breach of the constriction and declare that unconstitutional and invalid.”

“On this basis the Supreme Court ordered the recalling of parliament and further ordered that the clerk of parliament place the notice as the first item of business on the first day of the sitting that the parliament was to be called on.”

“Similarly, the Supreme Court declared that the motion of no confidence in the Prime minister lodged with the speaker on the 7th of June 2016 complied with the technical requirements of section 145 of the constitution in standing orders 22 and 130.”

However, the speaker also made mention of the nature in which the courts had “encroach” onto the legislature- adding the house’s intention to seek a resolution of parliament to invoke a special constitutional reference before the supreme court to verify the supreme court’s power to order breaches of the constitution and the organic law.

With the special constitutional reference threatening to derail and challenge the court orders for the motion of the no confidence vote, the speaker chose to put the matter on the backburner in what he indicated was in the best interest of the country in light of industrial and civil actions experienced around the country.

“Honourable leaders I feel this time we have to be sensitive about what is happening around us, sensitive about what is happening in Papua New Guinea as well.”

“Whilst I would really want to take this matter to court and get this parliament to resolve for us to take this matter for judicial review.”

“I would rather exercise caution and I would say we will do it after we’ve dealt with the matter that is before us. I am exercising a lot of precaution here.”

“For that reason I will ask the leader of government business to go ahead with complete moving of the motion for adjournment.”

Parliament was adjourned to Friday at 10am for the vote to take place.