Opposition Leader, Douglas Tomuriesa’s Supreme Court case regarding the Vote of No Confidence (VoNC) motion returns on July 19 at the Supreme Court in Waigani.
This follows directional orders made this morning (Monday, July 1) by Justice Derek Hartshorne sitting as a single Supreme Court judge.
The directions are part of the process towards a substantive hearing date.
The short hearing this morning follows last Friday’s unanimous decision by a 5-men Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika declaring Mr Tomuriesa as having the legal standing to bring this Supreme Court application for the high court’s interpretation.
On Friday Mr Tomuriesa, accompanied by the Deputy Opposition Leader James Nomane, Sina-Sina Yongumugl MP Kerenga Kua, and other Opposition members, including the Alternate Prime Minister nominee Rainbo Paita.
A happy Mr Tomuriesa spoke outside the court room, welcoming the decision, addressing the public.
“Our people of Papua New Guinea, the case now will move to substantive hearing and we as the opposition will be moving very fast to make certain that it is presented to the Supreme Court within this week or possibly next week (today) so that we can advance the VONC court decision on what we think is an unfair decision by the government,” he said
Minister for Justice and Attorney General Pila Niningi also spoke to the media, congratulating the Opposition Leader on the court ruling.
Minister Niningi said we must respect the rule of law and the court processes.
However, he said his objection to competency application was on foot and he will pursue it.
The Opposition Leader welcomed the Minister’s remarks, stating: “At this juncture I would like to thank the Attorney General, the Minister himself, when he came before me to speak to you, he stated that they respect the court’s decision, and they would like to see that this case moves forward.”
” I think that is very, very important.”