Peter O'Neill

This is in compliance with the Order of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCC[OS]) No. 3 of 2016 dated July 12.

The Supreme Court ordered the speaker to recall parliament within 5 days, including today, to have the motion of no-confidence introduced, debate and voted on as a matter of national importance and urgency.

An order was also made to the clerk of parliament to place the notice of motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister as the first item of business of parliament on the first day of sitting.

The two former prime ministers in a statement released on Monday called for O’Neill’s resignation.

They claimed that under O’Neill’s management, the country’s economy is heading towards disaster.

However, O’Neill told Loop PNG that the country’s economy is recovering well from the decline caused by global commodities’ price fall.

“Revenue is improving each month and expenses are under control,” O’Neill told Loop PNG via text message.

In a statement the leaders said Papua New Guinea is at a turning point.

They said the country can choose to start afresh with new leadership, new vision and new hope for the future or continue down an uncertain, slippery road, led by a person who is increasingly behaving like a dictator, with total disregard for the law.

They have made their choice and called on fellow Papua New Guineans to join them in rescuing the country. 

“We cannot, through inaction, see our democracy and the institutions that support democracy ruined. The nation’s future is at stake.

The ultimatum will end on Tuesday (tomorrow) midnight.

Aviation Industry spokesperson Captain James Makop told Loop PNG in an exclusive interview this morning that the call was basically for O’Neill to resign and allow the police to investigate him regarding some serious allegations against him.

“Basically our concern was what we see as deliberate suppression of the rule of law by the Prime Minister,” he said.

The Prime Minister said President Xi wants to see a strengthening of PNG’s industrial and manufacturing sector, and to increase exports from the country into China.

President Xi also wants to encourage more tourists from China into Papua New Guinea to see the amazing landscape and the people and to do that he said that China would work with the PNG’s tourism sector to lay the groundwork for Chinese tourist and promote the country.

Submissions were made by parties in court yesterday on the Opposition application challenging the conduct of parliament when it adjourned to August 2 without considering the Vote of no-confidence motion after it was filed on the speaker’s office on June 7.

Opposition Leader Don Polye’s lawyer Marshall Cook told the court the motion for no confidence vote against the Prime Minister that was filed on June 7 was signed by more than 11 MPs.

The Prime Minister said it is the decision of the UPNG Council, which the Government could not interfere with but it is doing all it can to ensure the academic year is saved so students can continue on with their studies.

“Government officials are now negotiating with the UPNG Council to find an amicable way to save the academic year and if it means schooling until December, we will do everything possible for the students to continue,” said O’Neill.

He said that education is the top priority of the government and it cannot see it being jeopardised.

Sir Mekere is seeking standing to bring the challenge as a private citizen – former Prime Minister and senior public servant, businessman, economist, chairman of PNGSDP and former chairman of OTML.

He announced in January 2016 that he had begun new legal proceedings seeking to have the Mining (Ok Tedi Tenth Supplemental Agreement) Act 2013 declared unconstitutional and invalid.

Should the Court declare that Sir Mekere has standing, a full trial of the substantive issues will follow.

O’Neill was responding to Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) which reported that Papua New Guinea's government officers were visiting international financial hubs this week hoping to raise money on the offshore bond market.

Radio New Zealand reported that the Governor of PNG's Central Bank, Loi Bakani, along with the Secretary of the Department of Treasury, Dairi Vele, are scheduled to give presentations in London tomorrow, before heading to Boston and New York.

He said the Central Bank operates as an independent entity and the Government has no dealings with its roles

Sir Mekere in a statement claimed that the O’Neill Government’s political interference in the Bank of Papua New Guinea is threatening the stability of the nation’s financial system and state finances, and increasing risks for bank depositors and investors in financial institutions.