PNG Ombudsman Commission

“Government formation can't occur after Wednesday 2nd August 2017.”

This was clarified in a press conference hosted by the Ombudsman Commissions office in Port Moresby.

Chief Ombudsman Michael Dick, Ombudsman Richard Pagen, and OC Lawyer Vergil Narokobi stressed on the Constitution and the Organic Law as well as the Acts surrounding the issue.

OC Lawyers, Vergil Narakobi explains that the Constitution in Section 105 in part states that writs must be returned before the 5th Anniversary.

This was made clear by the Chief Ombudsman, Michael Dick in a press conference on Sunday.

The Ombudsman Commission has maintained a strong interest in the integrity of the 2017 National General Elections and in this case the Commission is not interfering with the operational responsibilities of the Electoral Commission.

Chief Ombudsman, Michael Dick said the Ombudsman Commission is entrusted with the responsibility to lift the overall standards of public administration in Papua New Guinea.

Acting Chief Ombudsman Michael Dick in a media conference this afternoon confirmed payments had been made but the doors are still locked by the agent of the landlord.   

He clarified that as an agent of the State, the rental payments are made by Finance Department through the Government Office Allocation Committee.       

“The Ombudsman Commission would like to inform the public that as of Friday 17 March, its head office in Port Moresby and Lae (regional office) have been locked by respective landlords,” Dick said.