VONC

Opposition eagerly awaits May 28 session

Member for Hiri Koiari Keith Iduhu says the opposition is expecting parliament to put the motion on the notice paper come the next parliament sitting.

He said when parliament resumes on the 28th of May, the Private Business Committee will meet the next day, which is 29th of May and they expect the committee to deliberate on the notice then and the speaker to announce it during the May 30th sitting of parliament and will subsequently lead to an adjournment of parliament for a week.

VoNC Notice requirements

Acting Clerk of Parliament, Kala Aufa clarified that the VoNC motion will need to meet certain requirements in the constitution before it is put on the Notice Paper.

The office of the Clerk of Parliament has clarified that with parliament adjourned, the Private Business Committee, chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, could not sit the following day Wednesday 8th May to discuss the motion of the Vote of No Confidence.

The Private Business Committee only meets on Wednesdays, when parliament sitting continues, to examine all Private Business motions.

Govt seeks SC interpretation on VONC

Twivey Lawyers, acting for the Attorney General, Steven Davis, filed the Special Reference on December 3, 2018.

The special reference seeks the Court’s interpretation whether the nominated Prime Minister must be from a party with most numbers and whether the vote of no confidence is justiciable with the process and procedures of Parliament and its committees.

This came about from a Supreme Court reference of November 2015 by then Opposition leader Don Polye and the Supreme Court ruling of July 2016.

Police on full alert in main city areas in NCD

What used to be a heavy and busy traffic along Waigani and Gerehu is now very slow and only a handful of buses are on the road today.

Although some stores are open, most school students in Waigani and Gerehu have been sent home for safety reasons.

Residents at Waigani informed Loop PNG that police presence has been very tight since  early this week and that they are not expecting any huge group gatherings anytime soon.

WHP Police Commander calls on police to remain steadfast

Provincial Police Commander for Western Highlands Province Chief Superintendent Martin Lakari told his men and women in a parade today.

"Whoever is voted on the floor of Parliament as their prime minister is their prime minister and we have to respect that," he said.

He said they will be on full alert today in their province while the Vote of no-confidence is taken place in the National Parliament today in the National Capital District.

PM says government will not delay VONC

The government under its helm have the majority in the house, with ruling Peoples National Congress holding 69 seats in the 111 seat Parliament.

"We will allow the motion (VONC) to be introduced like we have done last Friday.

"When it is introduced there will be no other agenda, even though we are not happy with the Court decision interfering with Parliament business because it is the first time in the country's history," O'Neill said yesterday.

He added that the coalition government has 81 MPs fully behind the Government of the day.

Students from Wardstrip Primary School sent home

Loop PNG was told by a grade 7 student that they were sent home early due to the vote taking place in Parliament.

"They sent us home for our safety" the student said.

Mothers who sell food outside the school said they were told yesterday that students would be dismissed at lunch time today however that was not the case this morning.

It is anticipated more students will be sent home early today.

East Sepik MPs urged to vote using their conscience

The vote will be the only business of the special session at 10am.

Newton Savi, the President of East Sepik Tertiary Students Union made this call in Wewak yesterday.

He said the six open MPs must join Governor Sir Michael Somare in the Opposition side to remove the Prime Minister of Peter O'Neill  who  he claimed was destroying the country's economy and not respecting the rule of law.

Savi told Loop PNG that, if the Opposition are successful in the VONC, Sir Michael is good candidate to lead a unity government with 12 months left for the next national elections.

Queue of people outside of Parliament getting rowdy

People who were caught or are trying to break the line have been pushed back by police and told to stand in a proper line before they can be given a pass to go in.

Police are now urging people to move away from the opposite side of the line and to go home to watch the vote of no confidence proceeding live on either EMTV and NBC.

 150 people have already gone in with their passes to witness the sitting and only 150 passes are left to be handed out.

The Opposition needs 56 votes to topple O’Neill

The motion for the Vote of No-Confidence will be the only business in this special session directed by the Supreme Court.

The reading of the VONC was done seven days ago, and this morning the 108 MPs will vote.

The other three seats in the House of representatives are vacant.

An optimistic Opposition Leader Don Polye has been keeping the numbers game close to his chest.

With only 20 MPs in the alternative government camp, Polye has repeated time and time again that he also has support in the Government side to change the prime minister.