Sir Mekere Morauta

Sir Mekere said the petition was dismissed on legal, procedural and technical grounds.

The dismissal came after the court found the petition was incompetent. Petitioner Lohia Boe Samuel failed to comply with requirements of section 208 of the Organic law.  

Samuel failed to state the occupation of the two attesting witnesses in the petition, which is a requirement, breaching section 208(d) of the organic law.

“It’s a matter of law, the law’s been enforced right here.

He responded after NCD Governor and close ally, Powes Parkop, asked him to clarify whether or not the government was arranging shady deals between landowners and buyers outside of proper processes.

The NCD Governor was inclined to crush rumours his government was involved in illegal land deals after Member for Moresby North-West, Sir Mekere Morauta, accused the government of ‘actively facilitating’ land deals without proper consultation with customary landowners.

This will allow local companies to bid for infrastructure projects funded through loan financing.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said this in Parliament yesterday afternoon.

The Prime Minister made the statement when questioned by Moresby North-West MP, Sir Mekere Morauta, about the loan arrangements with the Chinese Government.

Sir Mekere asked the Prime Minister how much debt has the Government accrued through loans with the Chinese Government.

National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop has given his word.

Parkop said the NCD Physical Planning Board has deferred approval for Kumul Training Institute (KTI) to re-zone Section 227, Allotment 100, Hohola (Tokarara) “to allow further community input”.

His swift response followed a letter from former prime minister and Moresby North-West MP, Sir Mekere Morauta, who personally delivered a signed petition on Tuesday (Nov 21) by Tokarara residents against the 150 x 90 metre gazetted public recreational reserve area.

The applications briefly came before the Supreme Court today and were adjourned to the end of the month.

The application seeking contempt charges were against Sir Mekere Morauta, Patrick Pruaitch, Kerenga Kua, Belden Namah and Bryan Kramer.

It was filed in the two joint appeals that is challenging the National Court’s decision of August 8, which found that the court cannot judicially review the arrest warrant that was issued against the Prime Minister in 2014.

The joint appeals have been heard with a decision pending from a three-man Supreme Court bench.

Sir Mekere Morauta, Patrick Pruaitch and Kerenga Kua are yet to file their statements because they want their case given to an expatriate lawyer.

Their lawyer told the court today that they are awaiting the approval of the brief out by the Attorney General.

The Supreme Court today gave an extension of one week to the lawyer for the three MPs to file their affidavits.

Madang Open MP, Bryan Kramer, who is representing himself in court, was not present. Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah’s lawyer was also not in court.

Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch said instead, Sir Mekere will use his extensive background and knowledge to mentor shadow ministers.

Besides being a former PM, Sir Mekere was the first Papua New Guinean to become Secretary of Finance and later was Governor of the Central Bank.

He also had a reputation as a reforming prime minister.

The allegations contained in the petition relates to errors and omissions on the part of the PNG Electoral Commission.

The petition went for direction hearing yesterday to assist parties prepare themselves for trial.

Sir Mekere told supporters outside court that the election petitions are processes losing candidates pursue to seek relief and he had nothing to hide.

“It is a process we have to go through to determine if we are properly elected or not,” Sir Mekere said.

It all started with a question without notice from Moresby North-West MP, Sir Mekere Morauta, asking Prime Minister Peter O’Neill a series of questions in relation to the sale.

“Why have you sold the shares at prices below what you paid for?

“It has been reported that you sold the last tranche of 31 million shares at $6.70, $1.50 less than the purchase price, incurring a loss on this final parcel alone of around K120 million,” pointed out the former prime minister.

“At what prices did you sell the other 118 million shares – more than $8.20 or less?

He said Sir Mekere’s statement was typical Opposition politics.

O’Neill dismissed the claims as being based on Sir Mekere’s imaginary figures, saying instead that on balance, the State has made around a 100 million Kina from the sale in Oil Search project.

“The State’s investment in Oil Search was the right decision at the time, it helped maintain confidence in the oil and gas sector, but was undermined by unforeseen global factors and baseless political opposition,” he said.