Supreme Court rules Opposition Leader can challenge Parliament’s decisions

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Opposition Leader Belden Namah … wins Supreme Court approval to challenge Parliament decisions

Supreme Court rules Opposition Leader can challenge Parliament’s decisions

PORT MORESBY: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (April 14, 2021) ruled that Opposition Lader Belden Namah has stand to pursue a constitutional challeneg on the passing of Budget 2021 and Parliament’s failure to deal witha motion of no confidence he filed on Dec 16,

The ruling was delivered by a five-man bench.

What happens to Budget 2021 and the motion of no confidence against Prime Minister James Marape if Namah wins the substantive case?

Details of the Supreme Court proceedings were reported by The National:

Namah can challenge Parlt

April 15, 2021The NationalMain Stories

Job Pomat

By KARO JESSE
THE Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Opposition Leader Belden Namah has standing to pursue a constitutional challenge on the passing of the Budget 2021 and Parliament’s failure to deal with a motion of no confidence he filed on Dec 16.
The five-man bench comprising Justice Allen Kingsley David, Justice Derek Hartshorn, Justice Teresa Berrigan, Justice Ere Kariko and Justice Thomas Anis declared Namah’s standing and adjourned the matter to Tuesday for further directions on substantive hearing.
Namah’s standing was declared after a single judge of Supreme Court refused an application by East Sepik Governor Allan Bird who sought to intervene in the proceedings as the chairman of Parliamentary Plans and Estimates Committee.
The court found that Bird did not have any special interest such that he should be allowed to intervene.
Attorney-General Dr Eric Kwa and Parliament Speaker Job Pomat are the interveners in the proceedings.
The application raised important constitutional questions relating to proper interpretation and application of the Constitution, and:

· Dr Eric Kwa

WHETHER Budget 2021 passed by Parliament on Dec 16 was consistent with the Constitution and the spirit of the Constitution; and,

· 

· WHETHER Parliament’s decision to adjourn to April 20 was consistent with the Constitution, due to the fact that the mandatory process commenced by submitting a notice of motion against Prime Minister James Marape by the Opposition was not fully completed.

Namah claimed that Parliament’s decision to adjourn to April 20 without debating and voting on the motion of no confidence was inconsistent with the Constitution.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea (Employment stagnant since 2014) PORT MORESBY: Employment in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained stagnant since 2014 with millions of unemployed looking for jobs. The formal job market currently can only accommodate between 400,000 and 500,000, Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker says. “As more young people enter the job market this year after graduating from tertiary institutions and schools, the chances of securing formal employment is slim. “Employment had remained stagnant despite the increase in potential workers coming out of educations institutions,” he added. Read on for more details as published by The National : Hard to get jobs January 27, 2022 The National Main Stories By DALE LUMA MILLIONS of eligible workers around the country are looking for jobs in the formal sector, which currently can ...
Read more

Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30

Image
News that matters in Papua New Guinea Armed tribal warriors on the move in Sugu Valley. Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30 PORT MORESBY: At least six tribes have been fighting in Sugu Valley (Kagua-Erave, Southern Highlands) since Feb 10, 2019, without any signs of an end and peace. In fact, the death toll has risen to at least 30, up from 11 on May 23, 2019, and the opening of a new battlefront in Sumbura near Poroma with multiple deaths reported in 24 wards. Armed tribal warriors on the march into the forests and jungles. PNG Cyber Monitor had on a May 25, 2019, posting ( https://pngcybermonitor.blogspot.com/2019/05/real-life-rifles-bows-and-arrows-bloody.html Real life rifles, bows and arrows bloody fights in PNG ) highlighted the bloody battle waged by tribal warriors armed with rifles, bows and arrows and knives. PNG Cyber Monitor is again highlighting the plight of the villagers who have been living in fear as reported by The Nationa...
Read more

Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Sorcery tortures and violence are still being practised in Papua New Guinea in this 21st Century digital era. Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas PORT MORESBY: It was international shame for Papua New Guinea (PNG) this Christmas when sorcery reared its ugly head. Six women were stripped, bound to poles and burnt with hot knives as they screamed in pain, watched by an unsympathetic crowd. In a video that has gone viral in the internet, the women were accused of practising sorcery in Southern’s Enga. Police Comm David Manning described the sorcery torture as vile, inhumane, uncivilised, void of any human decency. “Papua New Guinea cannot progress without letting go of these horrific traditional beliefs. We have launched an urgent probe into the incident in Aiya’s Pawayamo village in Kagua-Erave.” The news break was published by The National : Horror torture of women Decem...
Read more