Deputy Speaker Hon Koni Iguan has welcomed the five-bench Supreme Court decision affirming all his rulings in Parliament on Friday, 13th of November 2020.
“I want to thank people of PNG for their prayers. And I am looking forward to work with the Speaker to do as the Supreme Court has ruled,” said Mr Iguan.
‘I want to appeal to leaders on both sides of Parliament to respect the rule of law and meet on 14th of December 2020 to sort out all these matters and set a way forward for our people and our country,” a relieved Mr Iguan said.
“I shed tears of joy today when I received the judgement because my rulings as Acting Speaker were done first with advice from the Clerk of Parliament and his team; and without fear or favour.
“I was very much aware that the chair I was on as acting Speaker was that of the Supreme Democratic institution of Papua New Guinea,” said Mr Iguan, Markham MP.
“It is my motivation to serve my people of Markham and any State and Constitutional Office in our country with distinction and integrity – leaving a positive and enduring legacy for future generations of our beloved country.
“I had to stay above and out-of-reach of my own party politics and even coalition partnership politics on the floor against the Government-of-the-dayin making rulings as the chair had to be impartial and its integrity protected,” said Deputy Speaker Iguan.
“As I said, even after session on Friday, 13th November, I double-checked with Clerk of Parliament that my rulings as acting Chair were in order. I was assured they were.
“I also briefed Speaker Hon Job Pomat upon his return from Manus that afternoon on what had transpired on the floor and my rulings as acting Chair.
“I was surprised by his decision to recall Parliament. But all that is now history as the Supreme Court has ruled – affirming my own rulings as acting Speaker in that day.”
The Supreme Court on 9th December 2020 ruled that:
1. The sitting of parliament on 13 November 2020, chaired by acting Speaker Iguan, is constitutional.
2. Speaker Job Pomat’s decision of 16th November 2020 to unilaterally recall parliament is unconstitutional.
3. Parliament’s sitting of 17th November 2020 chaired by Speaker Pomat is unconstitutional.
4. Budget passed on 17th November 2020 with the Appropriation Bills chaired by Speaker Pomat are declared void and of no effect hence unconstitutional.
5. Adjournment of Parliament from 17th November 2020 to 20th April 2021 chaired by Speaker Pomat is unconstitutional
6. Removal of private business committee on 17th November 2020 is illegal, void and unconstitutional implying the changes and composition effected on Friday, 13th November 2020 by 56 MPs stands; and
7. Speaker is to call Parliament to convene on 14 Dec 2020 at 10am.