GARY JUFFA VOTED OUT AS GOVERNOR OF NORTHERN PROVINCE (ORO)

By Sonja Barry Ramoi 

The Oro Provincial Assembly reportedly voted out popular & vocal MP Gary Juffa today as Governor and voted in David Arore as the new Governor of Oro. It is understood that a complaint has already been filed against David Arore for break & enter after he was alleged to have cut the lock to the Office of the Governor. It is believed that Gary Juffa will address the issue in a press conference soon and will contest the legality of the VONC taken against him. In the meantime supporters of both Mr Juffa and Mr Arore have been urged to stay calm and let the law take its course.

In an article on PNG Loop dated today (28/10/14) and entitled “Juffa adamant on reforms”, the following was reported:

Northern Province governor Gary Juffa says his office will continue with the provincial government reform efforts to rebuild the province.

He said this in response to the alleged vote-of-no-confidence against him by the two Open MPs of the province and the provincial assembly council members.

Juffa reassured the people of Northern Province that there was nothing for them to be alarmed about and that they should be calm.

He said the theatrics that are taking place are illegal.

“I’ve received legal advice from provincial lawyers from the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government, as well our own provincial government lawyer and their conclusions are the same, and that what is happening is unlawful and illegal.

“I’m not elected by the council presidents, nor am I elected by the two open members, I was elected by the people of [Northern], so therefore it is the people of [Northern] who have the right to remove me,” said Juffa.

He says to his people that they will continue with the provincial government reforms and efforts to rebuild the province.

“We need to put in place the necessary measures to ensure that development is sustainable, that development is transparent, expenditure of public funds is in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act and Financial Instructions.

“And I would like to advise the two open members to stop using their JDP & BPC as procurement authorities and put it through the provincial government system as is the case adopted by the Public Finance Management Act and Financial Instructions, that’s what the law says, that’s what I’m doing,” Juffa said.

He said they are collecting more information that suggests that a number of individuals are involved in funding these activities.

He expressed concern and said they will be making those reports to the appropriate authorities.

Under the Organic law a two-thirds absolute majority vote is needed to dismiss the Provincial Governor or Deputy Provincial Governor.

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20. DISMISSAL OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR AND DEPUTY PROVINCIAL
GOVERNOR.
(1) Subject to this section, if the Provincial Governor or Deputy Provincial Governor–
(a) deliberately and persistently frustrates or fails to comply with the resolutions of the Provincial Assembly; or
(b) deliberately and persistently disobeys applicable laws, including the Constitution, an Organic Law (including this Organic Law) or any national legislation applying in the province; or
(c) is negligent in exercising his powers or performing his functions, duties and responsibilities; or
(d) does an act that is or is likely to bring into disrepute or call into question the integrity of his office, the Provincial Assembly may, by a two-thirds absolute majority vote, dismiss the Provincial Governor or Deputy Provincial Governor.
(2) The dismissal of the Provincial Governor or the Deputy Provincial Governor shall be by motion–
(a) which shall be expressed to be a motion to dismiss the Provincial Governor or the Deputy Provincial Governor, as the case may be; and
(b) of which not less than one week’s notice signed by the number of members of the Provincial Assembly, being not less than one-quarter of the total number of seats in the Assembly, has been given in accordance with the procedures of the Assembly.