Oro Governor and leader of the People’s Movement for Change Party Gary Juffa has added his name to signatories for the motion of a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Commenting on his decision to sign the motion, Juffa said his signature was a sign of protest on behalf of the people of Oro and PNG as a whole.
“I feel that this government has not adequately made enough of efforts to protect and promote the interest of our country and people.
“It is unfair and injustice for people being punished through political reasons.”
He claimed that people’s interest had not been protected by the current government.
Juffa gave an example of such as the granting of citizenship to the alleged Interpol criminal fugitive Djoko Tjandra, the tabling of the SABL reports and the UBS loan that had been arranged outside of parliament and other issues.
“Where is justice?” he asked.
“The strategic role for any government is to protect and promote the interest of the people of Papua New Guinea.”
He reiterated that the country’s economy is no longer “in our grasp’’.
“If we don’t own the economy, we don’t have a future and our destiny is in the hands of the others.”
He said the Opposition was here to guide and help the government and they must heed the warning and promote the interests of the people.
In 2012 Parliament moved the grace period from 18 months to 30 months. In 2013 it also changed the number of sitting days to no less than 40 days in a year.
They also amended that a month’s notice was required by the Opposition if they were to move a notice of motion for a vote of no confidence against the government.
Another amendment they did was to have 22 MPs sign that motion from what used to be 11 required MPs’ signatures.
However, the Supreme Court found all these parliamentary amendments were unconstitutional.
Therefore, it only requires 11 signatures to move the motion of vote of no confidence.
The Opposition did not give the number of signatures they already have but are adamant that they will push the motion and remove Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in a separate press conference this morning said his government was intact and confident of serving the people of the country till the next elections in 2017.