Namah files Fresh New Application Challenging the Constitutionality of Marape's Election as Prime Minister
OPPOSITION FILES A FRESH NEW APPLICATION CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF MARAPE’S ELECTION AS PRIME MINISTER
Statement
Firstly, let me thank the Members of the Judiciary for the decision that was handed down by the Supreme Court on Friday, 27th of March. This was a fully considered legal decision and a further demonstration of the strength of the independence of the judiciary in our country.
The legal proceedings that I initiated are nothing personal and or political.
This is a very important matter of Parliamentary process that will have implications for strengthening the lariat and formality of process in the formation of Governments in our country for generations to come.
It is the Constitutional responsibility of the Opposition to keep the government of the day in check and transparent and accountable at all times for and on behalf of the people of our country.
Amongst one of our paramount responsibilities of the Parliamentary Opposition is to protect the Constitution of our country and to ensure we conduct the business of Parliament in accordance with the parameters set out by our National Constitution.
Despite claims by James Marape on Friday that the matter is closed, the decision by the Supreme Court was not anything to do with the substantive matters of the Application.
Out of the four grounds considered by the Supreme Court on Friday 27th of March in James Marape’s Competency Application, three of the grounds raised by James Marape were dismissed, while the only matter upheld was the wrong word used on the Form. The word used was Reference instead of Application.
I appreciate that this inaccuracy was a matter that the court could not accept as this was a clear oversight by my legal counsel.
At this point, I wish to inform our people and our nation is that Opposition has just filed a fresh new Section 18 (1) Application challenging the Constitutionality of James Marape’s election as Prime Minister, so that this matter can be properly heard and a conclusion reached.
It is my hope that this process will be heard promptly as a matter of serious public importance, because our people need to know if the election of James Marape was legitimate.
It is not lost on us that this Application comes at a time that the world is facing the threat of the Coronavirus Pandemic. I would like to reassure the people of our nation that we in the Opposition stand united in the fight against the Coronavirus Pandemic.
In fact, we are the ones urging the government to recall Parliament, declare a State of Emergency at the appropriate time and to pass a Stimulus Budget to combat the Coronavirus Pandemic.
We thank our people of our beautiful country, especially our supporters, for their continuous prayers and support.
We further thank our team of lawyers, under the leadership of Mr. Greg Sheppard the Principal of Young & Williams Lawyers, and Mr. Matthew Tamutai of Tamutai Lawyers for their tireless work.
True and transparent democratic process is the cornerstone of our country, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and we must all stand together to defend our democratic process no matter how much we are criticized for doing so.
HON. BELDEN NORMAN NAMAH, MP
Leader of the Opposition
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Statement
Firstly, let me thank the Members of the Judiciary for the decision that was handed down by the Supreme Court on Friday, 27th of March. This was a fully considered legal decision and a further demonstration of the strength of the independence of the judiciary in our country.
This is a very important matter of Parliamentary process that will have implications for strengthening the lariat and formality of process in the formation of Governments in our country for generations to come.
It is the Constitutional responsibility of the Opposition to keep the government of the day in check and transparent and accountable at all times for and on behalf of the people of our country.
Amongst one of our paramount responsibilities of the Parliamentary Opposition is to protect the Constitution of our country and to ensure we conduct the business of Parliament in accordance with the parameters set out by our National Constitution.
Despite claims by James Marape on Friday that the matter is closed, the decision by the Supreme Court was not anything to do with the substantive matters of the Application.
Out of the four grounds considered by the Supreme Court on Friday 27th of March in James Marape’s Competency Application, three of the grounds raised by James Marape were dismissed, while the only matter upheld was the wrong word used on the Form. The word used was Reference instead of Application.
I appreciate that this inaccuracy was a matter that the court could not accept as this was a clear oversight by my legal counsel.
At this point, I wish to inform our people and our nation is that Opposition has just filed a fresh new Section 18 (1) Application challenging the Constitutionality of James Marape’s election as Prime Minister, so that this matter can be properly heard and a conclusion reached.
It is my hope that this process will be heard promptly as a matter of serious public importance, because our people need to know if the election of James Marape was legitimate.
It is not lost on us that this Application comes at a time that the world is facing the threat of the Coronavirus Pandemic. I would like to reassure the people of our nation that we in the Opposition stand united in the fight against the Coronavirus Pandemic.
In fact, we are the ones urging the government to recall Parliament, declare a State of Emergency at the appropriate time and to pass a Stimulus Budget to combat the Coronavirus Pandemic.
We thank our people of our beautiful country, especially our supporters, for their continuous prayers and support.
We further thank our team of lawyers, under the leadership of Mr. Greg Sheppard the Principal of Young & Williams Lawyers, and Mr. Matthew Tamutai of Tamutai Lawyers for their tireless work.
True and transparent democratic process is the cornerstone of our country, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and we must all stand together to defend our democratic process no matter how much we are criticized for doing so.
HON. BELDEN NORMAN NAMAH, MP
Leader of the Opposition
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