The signatures on the motion for the vote of no-confidence (VONC) against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will have its authenticity confirmed.
“The permanent parliamentary committee on private business resolved in a meeting that the VONC presented be required due diligence checks to ascertain the compliance with parliamentary practice and ensure that procedural qualifications have been met,” Acting Speaker Aide Ganasi wrote in a letter to the Opposition Leader Don Polye.
Ganasi is chairman of the parliamentary committee.
“After some deliberation, the committee was of the view that due diligence checks had to be made to all Members of Parliament that have placed their signatures on this motion to ensure that their signature is properly obtained,” Ganasi said.
“On this basis, the committee by majority decision resolved that the motion could not be deliberated on until such time as the due diligence checks were completed.”
Polye has welcomed the acting Speaker’s response on the motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister.
“If they were safe, would they do what they have done? If the Prime Minister had the full support of the MPs of the Parliament, would he devise such a delay tactic?” Polye stated.
The VONC motion filed to the Speaker’s office on March 22 was proposed by Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil and seconded by East Sepik Governor Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.