Sam Basil

Pangu Party and Deputy Opposition Leader, Sam Basil, is appealing to all the 4,000 intending candidates to join the campaign to mount a legal challenge against the proposed laws.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill recently confirmed his plans to increase the candidate nomination fee from K1,000 to K10,000, and fees for election petitions from K5,000 to K20,000.

Basil made the call yesterday alongside Member for Goilala, William Samb, in a media conference.

Samb has come on board to support Pangu Party and Deputy Opposition Leader, Sam Basil, to challenge the proposed nomination and election petition fee amendments in court.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill recently confirmed his plans to increase the candidate nomination fee from K1,000 to K10,000, and fees for election petitions from K5,000 to K20,000.

O’Neill claims that amendments are necessary as elections were costly and the increase would assist Electoral Commission to generate funds in instances of costs in running the elections.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill recently reaffirmed his plans to increase the candidate nomination fee from K1,000 to K10,000, and fees for election petitions from K5,000 to K20,000.

Basil highlighted that the proposed amendments are wrong and unconstitutional.

They will mount an immediate court challenge and have that law stayed by the court, and determine whether it is constitutional or unconstitutional.

“Too much funds wasted in Port Moresby alone,” the Bulolo MP said, comparing the pace of development in the Nation’s Capital to provincial centres.     

“If the majority of the rural population want their rural province, districts and LLGs to develop, then they must vote PNC out in the next general election.

Finance Minister James Marape revealed this today in Parliament in response to Deputy Opposition Leader and Wau-Bulolo MP Sam Basil claims.

Marape said the claims of Opposition MPs not getting their PSIP and DSIP are utterly lies and not true.

“This government has been fair to all district allocation and the indifferences raised by Opposition MPs claiming that they were not getting their funds were utterly nonsense and rubbish.”

In an interview with Loop PNG General Secretary, Morris Tovebae, says the Party is still intact and is focused on next year.

“It’s a very crucial meeting that we have to resolve all those little issues and then we look forward to our preparation for the election,” says Tovebae.

One of the issues that will be raised is the appointment of special advisors to Pangu by Parliamentary Party Leader, Sam Basil.

One the appointees is Sir Ila Geno who happens to be the President of the PNG Constitutional Democracy Party.

Member for Bulolo and Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil told an enthuastic show goers on Saturday during the 6th annual show which was officially opened by visiting guest and Member for Goilala William Samb.

Basil told the crowd that together with the Bulolo District Authority as front runners of the event, he would see additional funds injected to the improvement of the grounds, more involvement from the various cultural performance from the six Local level governments in the district gets a fair representation.

Bulolo MP and Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil, who has brought tangible developments to his district since entering Parliament said his worry is now to address the issue that he said would affect service delivery to his electorate.

The no nonsense MP indicated when visiting the Family Health Association’s stall at the 6th annual Bulolo District Show on Saturday.

Geno began his career as a police officer in 1968 as a detective under Australian administration.

He served 25 years in the force and bestowed the top position of Chief of Police in 1992.

After serving out his two year contract as Commissioner of Police, he was later appointed Chairman of Public Service Commission in 1993.

In 1999 Geno joined the Ombudsman Commission, two years later he was elevated to the top position of Chief Ombudsman.

Joining the advisors team in the party this afternoon were retired commander of PNGDF Jerry Singirok and renowned political analyst Brian Kramer.

Singirok has been appointed as political advisor on national security and Kramer has been appointed as chief political strategist.

Party leader Sam Basil when welcoming the two advisors said their involvement and contribution to the party will really bring change to the party and the people as a whole.