2024’s first Parliament sitting ended on a disappointing note for PNG’s Opposition when Acting Speaker of Parliament Koni Iguan announced that their notice of motion of No Confidence in the Prime Minister would not be placed on the notice paper. The Opposition labelled it as a hijack of parliament procedures, but the Prime Minister James Marape said they failed to meet the requirements and to try again next time round. The rather abrupt decision roused criticism from the Opposition side who demanded an explanation. The Opposition’s outburst at this unwelcome news was overlooked by the acting Speaker, who proceeded to accept the move by Leader of Government Business, Rainbo Paita, to adjourn parliament to Tuesday 20th May, 2024 at 2pm. Immediately, the opposition flagged down media at parliament and expressed their outrage at this turn of events. Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah said the motion the acting Speaker referred to was dead; as a live one afoot was filed on 20th February. The Acting Speaker addressed the Motion of No Confidence in Prime Minister James Marape – Tari-Pori MP - delivered on February 14th, and was discussed by the Private Business Committee on February 21st at 12:30 pm by the Private Business Committee in the Speakers lounge. Whilst the Acting Speaker emphasized the importance of the motion and its constitutional process, acknowledging it as a matter of national significance, he disclosed the Committee’s decision not to place the motion on the notice paper. He said the mover of the notice would informed soon of that decision, but the Prime Minister last evening said the reason was due to the special committee concerned over signatures submitted on the notice. The Prime Minister went on to publicly accuse the Opposition of ‘forging’ signatures and said those involved will be referred for investigations. But the vocal Opposition strong-man Namah outside Parliament called on the Prime Minister to stop interfering with the parliament process. “What we witnessed is the hijacking of the parliament procedures and the constitution of the country.” “Prime Minister should never interfere with the process of the parliament!” Namah said the Acting Speaker did not present the motion on VoNC from the 20th February on the floor of Parliament. The Vanimo-Green MP explained that the motion of February 14th had a defect. It was a simple error which the special committee recommended to the Opposition to correct, which they did. A fresh motion was resubmitted on February 20th at 9:20am to the Acting Speaker, who accepted and stamped it, witnessed by the Clark of Parliament and the Deputy Clark. Opposition was assured they met the process in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament, but Namah said the events at the end of Parliament’s session on Thursday 22nd February showed a clear hijacking of the parliamentary process and procedures, and PNG’s Constitution. “We might not have the numbers on the floor of parliament but the number we bring to the floor of Parliament is all the people of PNG standing with us on the Vote of No Confidence.” Meantime, Prime Minister Marape called on the Opposition to do “their homework” right, and follow the process correctly. He said the Opposition had 17 days to ensure their motion of No Confidence in the Prime Minister was to be heard this sitting. However, he said the Opposition still had the May sittings to still have their VoNC motion dealt with, and that in the meantime, the government will go about its normal business, delivering services and projects in the country – today (Friday 23rd February) he visits re-opened Pogera mine in Enga Province.