parliament

The two weeks sitting will end the life of the five year parliament term, before Papua New Guineans go to the polls.

Issue of Writs for the 2017 National Election will be on April 20.

PNG first Prime Minister and East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare will also be farewelled as he had already lifted his hands to retire from active politics after more than four decades.   

Also the much talked about, Bill to increase the nomination fees to be paid by candidates wanting to contest the coming election will go before parliament for its final reading.

O’Neill made the statement today when officially opening the 2017 Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby.

He said although many criticisms and other negative and bad comments have been raised agains them, his government has never failed its commitment in serving the people.

“We developed a core set of policies and commitments to our nation and were very busy implementing them.

“We never promise to take everybody to the moon, but to improve lives of so many people and our children.”

Leader of Government Business James Marape made the announcement on Tuesday in Parliament after the swearing-in of the country’s 10^th Governor General Bob Dadae.

The new Governor General took his oath and declaration before Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.

The official swearing-in ceremony was the only business of the day during parliament sitting.  

Marape also announced that Teleformin MP Solan Mirisim is appointed as the Citizenship Committee chairman, and Angoram MP Salio Waipo is now the deputy chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.    

Originally planned for last week, Lupari said the meeting was pushed back after a number of provincial delegations experienced travel delays.

“There were a number of governors and provincial officials who were unable to arrive for the Wednesday morning meeting,” the Chief Secretary said.

“Their inclusion in discussions is important, so the Leaders’ Summit will now take place before the next sitting of Parliament convenes in the afternoon of 28 February.

This will see the establishment of the PNG APEC 2018 Safety and Security Joint Taskforce, and for adequate powers and functions to be provided to ensure efficient and effective safety and security during the event.

The Bill was passed by a vote of 69 – 0, which had the full support of the Government and Opposition ranks.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the legislation needed to be passed so that proper protection can be provided for world leaders who visit our country.

Temu said they can only recommend the type of structure they require suitable to their own particular setting or location, which will then be channeled through the respective Provincial Governments to the Department.

He was responding to Kikori MP and Opposition Member, Mark Maipakai , in Parliament on Thursday.

“Do we districts have the powers under the Organic Law to create our own structures and get it endorsed through the Provincial Government and it comes through the system for confirmation by  higher authorities?” asked Maipakai.

Dadae made this comment in Parliament on Thursday, in his last Parliament sitting as an elected Member of Parliament.

He was serving as the MP for Kabwum of Morobe Province when Parliament gave him the mandate ahead of Edward Ranu Diro and Timothy Bonga on Wednesday.    

Dadae thanked the people of Kabwum for giving him the mandate to serve them in the last 15 years.

“It’s not by chance of mistake but the mandate is because of the experience I have.

The tabled reports allege the existence of collusion between the alleged syndicate and Labour Department officials to enter the country on illegal work permits.

Juffa first raised the issue with Labour Minister, Benjamin Poponawa, in Parliament last week, in which the Minister denied having any knowledge of the syndicate and said he would instruct the department to look into it.

 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks PNG 136/176

The 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has ranked PNG at 136 out of 176 countries and territories with a score of 28/100.

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/2016-corruption-perceptions-index-ranks-png-136176-50893

Kuman was responding to Okapa MP Isaac Waigavara during the Questions without Notice today in Parliament.

Waigavara asked the Education Minister to clarify the fees that were being imposed by schools which make parents confused before the beginning of the academic year.

However, Kuman in response said the Government had advice all the headmasters and principles of all the schools across the country that no fees must be collected from the students because the government is paying for all the fees.