Michael Somare

This will certainly disrupt Parliament when it resumes on Tuesday.   

National Events and Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko confirmed to Loop PNG that Tuesday’s Parliament’s business is dedicated to farewell Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister.

Tkatchenko said when parliament sits; Sir Michael will make his farewell speech as a Member of Parliament before Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and Speaker make their reply.

He claimed there was a move to “sideline’’ the Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika as part  of a plan to remove officers who were seen to be acting against the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister strenuously denied the claims and told Sir Michael he was being “mischievous and self serving’’.

The East Sepik governor in Question Time claimed that the Prime Minister was trying to remove all official figure who were trying to fight corruption.