PNG Politics

MOU to improve female political participation

The Registrar of Political Parties, Dr Alphonse Gelu, said the outcome of the 2017 National Election indicates that more has to be done to address inequalities in leadership.

The MoU is a long term commitment and is vital to strengthen the registry’s ability to support women candidates and pool political parties’ support for women.

Officiating at the signing, Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific, Professor Michael Wesley commended the 165 women who contested this year’s elections.

Soso, Kouza and Gore break dominance in 2012

This was the best result for women candidates since 1977 when the first elections were conducted in the newly independent State of Papua New Guinea.

However, three MPs is still only a small percentage of all MPs, because elections remain dominated by men.

According to The Data on PNG elections from the Development Policy Centre of the Australian National University, in 2012, just 4 per cent of candidates were women.

In each of PNG’s regions, women candidates won lower vote shares than men in 2012. This reflects the challenges women candidates face.

Marape calls for support

Speaking at the Commissioning of the Nipa District Hospital in Nipa, Southern Highlands District on Thursday, Marape urged them to look around them and compare the basic services to the previous governments.

“For the past 40 years, we have been neglected and not be able to access basic services.

“However, this has changed since PNC take over and provide services to the people. We will continue to deliver the services if PNC is back and form the next government,” Marape told the more than 10,000 people gathered to witness the occasion.

Future MPs urged to maintain national unity

That was the final message from retiring East Sepik Governor and Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in Parliament today.

Today was Sir Michael’s final day as a politician after 49 years representing the people of East Sepik Province.  

 “I practise national unity and I am proud to be called the father of the nation.

“When we swore to the Bible at the Government House, we are promising that we are the servant to the people, it is important to be fit and healthy in this house, to know the importance of parliamentary systems,” Sir Michael said.

Polye’s THE Party launches new website

Parliamentary Party Leader and Opposition Leader, Don Polye, officially launched the website today in Port Moresby.

He was flanked by Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader and Kikori MP, Mark Maipakai, and Highlands Region Leader and Laiagap-Porgera MP, Nixon Mangape.  As well as THE Party executives and supporters.

Polye said the party was keeping up to speed with technology to keep in touch with the people.

People should directly vote for PM, says Naru

"We should address this issue in a way that will give stability to the Prime Minister,” Naru stated.

“And logically if we say that the government is of the people, by the people and for the people then the people can vote for the prime minister and not the Members of Parliament through their party system.”

He said this can be the only solution to many issues the country is facing in the government.

Naru, a constitutional lawyer, told the media in Lae yesterday that they can always change the Constitution to accommodate that.

O’Neill labels no-confidence attempt as “mischievous”

He described the move by the Opposition for a vote of no confidence as “mischievous”

“An ambitious motion they introduced which really is disappointing,” O’Neill says

He says this is because the country has challenges before it and as leaders they must take responsible positions and not use parliamentary systems to grab power.

O’Neill says his government has a good track record over the last three years where they have provided more jobs than ever before and have put more children into schools.

No-confidence vote rejection: wrong forms used says Speaker

Parliament officials say there are no forms however the correct format for the notice for a motion was not followed.

The Opposition has only tomorrow to correct the defects and file the motion again at the Speakers office.

Opposition  Leader Don Polye says they will not give up and that they will continue to file the motion for a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.

“We respectfully accept the return of the motion and we will look at the reasons for the rejection and will make an immediate re submission of the motion to the acting speaker,” he says.

Speaker rejects Opposition anti-PM move

Ganasi made this announcement as the first order of business this morning.

He says the notice was not deliberated on by the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Private Business because most of the members were unavailable for a meeting. 

He says section 23 subsection 4 gives him powers to determine the notice in the absence of the committee.

Ganasi says the notice was defective and therefore he rejected it.

After this announcement the leader of government business James Marape was asked to make a statement.

PM busy with work despite talks of no-confidence push

O’Neill has returned from his official visit to Japan and is attending to normal duties as the Prime Minister despite talks of a vote of no confidence against him.

His media adviser Chris Hawkins says O’Neill will be busy with meetings and preparing for the 2016 Budget.

The National Executive Council is meeting during the course of this week as they prepare for the parliament sitting next week Tuesday.

Meantime NGO activists have listed 34 reasons why they think O’Neill should resign. They are planning a peaceful protest for next week.