Prime Minister James Marape has welcomed Speaker of Parliament, Job Pomat’s decision to ask the Courts for clarification on the process of bringing to Parliament the Motion of Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister as per Section 145 of the Constitution.
PM Marape who spoke during a press conference on Wednesday in light of the decision made by the Parliamentary Private Business Committee, to reject the latest motion filed by the Opposition on the basis that certain sections of the application had not been properly filled as per the requirements of parliamentary standing orders.
This is the fifth attempt by the Opposition to lodge the motion which has been found to be erroneous in some way and PM Marape questioned as to why the Opposition was continuously making these basic mistakes.
“The proposal to change Government is no lightweight matter.”
“It is a Constitutional matter of attempting to change a government mandated through elections.”
“It has become apparent that for the fifth time in a row, the Opposition has made mistakes in filling a basic form according to the requirements of law and parliamentary standing order.”
“I am happy that the Speaker is going to the Courts to clarify himself because only the Courts will clear whether the Private Business Committee is right or wrong.”
In addition, PM Marape said that Papua New Guineans must start questioning why the Opposition keeps failing to properly bring to Parliament the VONC motion.
He also said the Opposition had been amply notified of the length of this session of Parliament and kept making mistakes, adding that it also failed to stop the adjournment as its final opportunity to pursue the motion because it lacked in numbers.
“You don’t go fishing for numbers. You produce your numbers, stop the adjournment and change the course of the Parliament sitting.”
“Unfortunately, they did not have the numbers once again.”
“To our people of Papua New Guinea, do not get caught up by the game being played by the Opposition because they do not have the numbers.”
Meanwhile, amidst the looming Vote of No confidence against the government, PM Marape made a call to all those working in the public service must not be caught in politics but instead allow all politicians talk politics.