East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare

The two weeks sitting will end the life of the five year parliament term, before Papua New Guineans go to the polls.

Issue of Writs for the 2017 National Election will be on April 20.

PNG first Prime Minister and East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare will also be farewelled as he had already lifted his hands to retire from active politics after more than four decades.   

Also the much talked about, Bill to increase the nomination fees to be paid by candidates wanting to contest the coming election will go before parliament for its final reading.

Pala made this allegation in today’s Parliament sitting when responding to a question from East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare.    

The retiring Governor asked where the government funding of K10 million went because the court building has remained incomplete.

Sir Michael said tomorrow is the opening of the legal year in Wewak and a clarification must be given.

“I am aware K10 million was released from Finance (Department) and as to where it went, I am not sure where it actual went, I do not have access to this information,” Pala said.

Sir Michael in a supplementary question directed to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said PNGDF expertise must be used whenever natural disaster strikes anywhere in the country.

 O’Neill in response said, that was the norm but will direct the National Disaster Office to do more consultation with PNGDF to use their expertise when needed.

Picture by Kennedy Bani. 

Kaprangi said this after the presentation of the 2017 East Sepik provincial budget to Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch last week in Port Moresby.   

She said the expenditure to farewell Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister is captured in the province’s internal revenue.

Kaprangi said the province wants to give Sir Michael a hero’s farewell from politics and had also written to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for funding support.

Sir Michael who is Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister and longest serving politician in the Commonwealth will pull the curtain down on his colourful political carrier in this March Parliament sitting.   

The East Sepik Provincial 2017 Budget is valued at K261 million.

Sir Michael said the budget was cut short by K7 million following national government not fully funding the Provincial Support Improvement Program (PSIP) component.    

Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch told Parliament this afternoon when responding to a Supplementary Question from East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare.

The retiring politician asked if the National Government will allocate funds to support the rotting infrastructures which were built in 1962 by the colonial government.

Pruaitch said there were other commitments but the East Sepik Provincial Government had failed to do follow up to secure funding.  

He gave an example of the offer by the Japanese Government, which the provincial government failed on its part.