Maprik MP

He said all MPs crossing the bench, had done so because of funding constraints impeding service delivery in their districts.

In a phone interview with this newsroom today, Governor Juffa challenged the recently defected Opposition members of parliament, to ensure service delivery is priority for their people.

He claimed that the Government is using DSIP and PSIP funds to lure MPs to join them.

However, when welcoming the three MPs, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the MPs move to the Government was at their own accord and nothing to do with DSIP and PSIP funds.

Welcoming the Governor and the other two MPs, Maprik MP, John Simon and Usino-Bundi MP, Jimmy Uguro, Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, said their move to the government shows that the Government is intact and stable.

In a small ceremony this afternoon at the Sir Manasupe Haus in Port Moresby,  the Prime Ministersaid the MPs move shows that PNC led government is intact and confident to remain in power for the remaining parliament terms.

Maprik MP John Simon raised this concern in Parliament yesterday, asking the Government whether there is a plan in increasing funding based on the population of each area.

Simon gave an example of his district, which is a service centre for other districts like Yangoru, Nuku and Aitape-Lumi in East Sepik Province.

Minister for Planning Richard Maru, in response, told Parliament that the Government is looking into this issue.

He however, assured the people of Maprik and his supporters that the Election petition against him will not put him down.

“The petition is now at the hands of the courts and the process will take its course”.

He said the next hearing will be in December in Wewak, and thus he is also appealing to his supporters that they should let the justice system deal with this matter, assuring that there is nothing to be worried about.

“I have gone through this kind of allegations, and other matters similar to this”.

He said most of these MPs were new Members of Parliament and not all of them were given their funding.

The question of DSIP and PSIP was raised by Maprik MP John Simon during yesterday’s parliament sitting.

“At least share the funds adequately to all MPs across the board and everyone can get fair funding, regardless of which side of the house we are in.”

He urged the Prime Minister to at least do the horouable thing by distributing the funds equally and not for MPs in the government side only.

Magistrate Cosmas Bidar found that allegations of two counts of false pretence and the 38 counts of official corruption against Simon were sufficient for his court to commit the MP to stand trial.

It is alleged that the two counts of false pretence with intention to defraud arose from Simon obtaining funds from the Maprik District Service Improvement Program. 

This saw amounts of K37,050 and K49,000 respectively paid into two of Simon's family companies; Extreme Hire Cares and Extreme Construction Ltd in 2012.