Namah calls for Prime Minister O'neill to appoint new Police Minister

PNG Opposition leader Belden Namah.

The Opposition has renewed calls for Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to resign, following allegations against him, on a letter authorizing payments to Paul Paraka Lawyers.

Opposition Leader Belden Namah, says the allegation is serious and questions O'Neill's position as the Chief Executive Officer of the country.

Namah also called on the Prime Minister to relinquish the Police Ministry, as his position will create conflict with investigations into the matter.

The Opposition Leader says, although he welcomes the work of the Task Force Team to date, it would be more appropriate for Mr. O'Neill to relinquish that post and appoint a new person to head the Ministry.

Mr Namah says for the investigations to be transparent, Mr O'Neil needs to distance himself from investigations carried out by the Task Force Sweep and other investigating agencies.

He adds there are many other cases of interest with police that involves current and former MPs and allege associates of Mr O'Neil as well, and these cases must be independently investigated without him posing shadow of the prime minister handing over them.

The police ministry was left vacant following the ousting of former minister and Madang Open MP Nickson Duban through the courts.

Immediate comments could not be obtained from Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, who just returned from his official visit to Israel.

Meantime, the Opposition Leader also urged Mr. O'Neill to appoint a new Education Minister to relieve James Marape, who also heads the Finance portfolio.