Bari Palma

Three more Members join PNC

Patrick Basa, Minister for Fisheries and Member for Kabwum, Bari Palma, Member for Kerowagi and Joseph Yopyyopy, Member for Wosera-Gauwi, joined PNC at the Party’s caucus meeting last night.

“The Honourable Patrick Basa had been the Leader of the Party Leader of Christian Democratic Party, and has been released by his party to join PNC,” said Prime Minister and PNC Leader, Peter O’Neill, in a statement.

“The Honourable Bari Palma has resigned from the PNG Party in Opposition, to join PNC.

Parliamentary leaders sign road agreement

Present at the signing was Kerowagi MP, Bari Palma, Anglimp-South Waghi MP Joe Koim Kuli, Simbu Governor Michael Dua and Jiwaka Governor, Dr William Tongamp.

Also present were representatives of Minister for Education Nick Kuman (Gumine MP) and Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Fabian Pok (North Waghi MP).

The ceremony was held at Dur Wamugl in Kerowagi District of Simbu Province on January 17, 2018, and attracted close to 5,000 people.

Kerowagi petition dismissed

It was dismissed because the allegations of Palma being insolvent or bankrupt was not made out in the petition.

Petitioner Francis Kikin Siune filed the petition on two grounds. The first was on errors and omission on the part of Electoral officials in accepting the nomination of Palma to stand for public office at the time he was declared bankrupt.

The second ground in the petition is that, after he was declared bankrupt by the National Court and elected as a member, he was not qualified to remain an MP.

Kerowagi MP refutes kidnapping claims

Bari Palma told media in Alotau that he's not aware of such claims and said these are all lies adding that he had gone through such criticisms and nothing is new to him.

He stated that a good example in that matter was when he was pronounced by the Supreme Court as bankrupt during the elections.

The case was filed by former MP Camilus Dangma.

However, he was allowed by the National Court to contest pending his appeal in the Supreme Court.

He is now the MP elect for Kerowagi and looking forward to serve his people.

High court allows candidate to contest

Bari Palma is a candidate vying the Kerowagi Open Seat this election. He was declared insolvent, or bankrupt, by the Waigani National Court on June 1.

Justice Derek Hartshorn declared him bankrupt after he failed to pay over K275,000 in legal cost from an Election Petition he had filed in 2013. This case is the first of such in the country.

On Nov 13, 2013, the National Court dismissed Palma’s election petition, ordering him to pay K275,119.06.

Aggrieved with the amount, he filed a judicial review in the National Court in February last year.

​Court declares candidate bankrupt

Bari Palma, a candidate for the Kerowagi Open Seat, was declared insolvent (bankrupt) by the National Court on June 1, 2017.

This decision was based on Palma failing to pay the taxed costs of an unsuccessful election petition he had filed previously against the sitting MP, Camillus Dangima Bongoro.

According to court documents, Palma owes Bongoro and the Electoral Commission (defendants) K275,119. 06.