Nick Kuman

This time, lawyers representing Dawa Lucas Dekena are asking the court to restrain Nick Kuman from attending the second parliament sitting or carrying out the functions and duties as member for the electorate.

On the morning of Aug 2, the National Court granted orders sought by Dekena, restraining Kuman from making the declaration of office in Parliament.

However, the restraining orders were not served in time to the speaker and clerk of parliament.

The orders were issued at 11:50am, Kuman made declaration at 12:03pm.

Baki to discuss future of asylum seekers

Police Commissioner Gari Baki will meet with the heads of relevant government department and agencies to discuss the future of the asylum seekers living on Manus Island.

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/baki-discuss-future-asylum-seekers-64479

PNG’s first trade policy to be launched

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will be launching Papua New Guinea’s First National Trade Policy today (Aug 9).

His lawyer told the court yesterday they intend to ask the court to dismiss the case when it briefly went before Justice Collin Makail.

The case returned after orders were issued on August 2, stopping Kuman from being sworn into parliament.

The restraining orders were issued by the court at 11:50am but were not served on the speaker and clerk of parliament in time. Kuman was sworn in at 12:03pm.

With the court yet to decide on who the duly-elected member of Gumine Open is, Kuman’s lawyers will ask the court on August 15 to dismiss the entire case.

He received a full report on what transpired during the election process for the Gumine Open electorate from the Election Manager for Simbu, Rev. Tom Sine.

He said the count was completed on Wednesday, 26 July, 2017. 

Assistant Returning Officer Margaret Tokmun was the supervisor during the count and she called for the results from exclusion number 47.

Gamato said Tokmun gave the result out and also advised who led after the final exclusion over the absolute majority.

Gamato said it was misquotation on their part.

He said the Electoral Commission is now working on a media statement to correct the name of the returning officer and will retract his statement.

Gamato’s misquotation has however, resulted in a court order that is currently in place, preventing both Nick Kuman and Lukas Dekena from participating in parliament until the case is determined. 

This major blunder resulted in the attendance of two members-elect from Gumine Open, Simbu Province, in parliament yesterday.

The Electoral Commissioner accepted the Gumine Open writ, declaring sitting MP, Nick Kuman (People’s National Congress Party candidate), Member of Gumine.    

On the other hand, Lucas Dekena, who entered the chamber but did not sign the Declaration of Loyalty Form, claimed he was cheated.   

The orders were issued at 11:50am today by Justice Collin Makail after hearing an urgent ex-parte application filed by Dawa Lucas Dekena.

Dekena's lawyers are now in the process of serving the orders on the Speaker and clerk of parliament.

Kuman has been restrained from being sworn in and making the declaration of loyalty and office now in parliament.

Justice Makail said both Dekena and Kuman should not participate at all in parliament until the case is determined.

The court now has to decide who the duly-elected member of Gumine Open is.

The two MPs of Gumine, Simbu Province, are Nick Kuman and Lucas Dekena.

Kuman is with the PNC camp while Dekena is with the Alliance Camp.

Loop PNG’s court reporter has advised that Dekena's lawyers are at the courthouse, trying to have Kuman removed.

They are still waiting for a judge to hear the application.

(Nick Kuman in Parliament)

This was the response from the Minister for Education Nick Kuman to Gary Juffa during question time in Parliament this morning.

Juffa raised a point of order after South Bougainville MP Timothy Masiu questioned the Minister for the roll out of the Tuition Fee Free (TFF) in the Autonomous region of Bougainville.

Juffa said children have been leaving schools especially boarding schools because the TFF funds were not reaching the schools on time and the policy was not working.

“The SIP is an overarching policy intervention designed to provide tangible development in the provinces, districts & LLGs,” says Gumine MP and Minister for Education, Nick Kuman.

“The program has delivered education and health infrastructure, roads, bridges, SMEs, law & order, rural electrification and water supply project, among others.

“For the first time since independence, we see that real development.”