If the Opposition members fail to follow strict requirements of the Constitution, Parliamentary Standing Order and the Supreme Court rulings on the Vote-of-no-confidence motion, they have themselves to blame for, says Prime Minister James Marape.
In a press conference yesterday afternoon, PM Marape assured Papua New Guineans that there was no need for unnecessary anxiety and tension because the much-anticipated motion of Vote-of-no-confidence was not tabled in Parliament.
He said the Government MPs were not running away from the motion, adding it will still be relodged by the Opposition on Tuesday 28th, May 2024 when Parliament sits again.
PM Marape continued that the most important business for Parliament is the formation of government and that every single protocol, process and procedure must be complied with.
“(Our people must know is that) Parliament proceedings are controlled by numbers. Numbers allowed motions to be sustained or refused. They (Opposition MPs) did not even call for a division when a motion was put for its adjournment. There was an overwhelming Yes to adjourn Parliament…we are not running away from the business,” PM Marape told media.
He stated that all the businesses like the Judiciary Amendment to set up the Court of Appeals, Constitutional Amendment for Christian identity and others were all dispensed.
He told media that there were three motions submitted, not two with some signatures of MPs forged.
He cited Milne Bay Provincial Member (Governor), Gordon Wesley’s signature was forged.
“They must not tamper the processes. When you don’t do things properly, do not blame others, blame yourself. I can assure you that government business will continue. We will sit for two weeks, three weeks and if the number shifts, so be it. For now, we still have the numbers. Pangu alone has 59 MPs, 50 plus 1 absolute-majority threshold.
There is evidence of cut and paste or forging signatures, procuring signatures of leaders without their consent-forgery at the highest level. Founding fathers on the other side failed to advise young ones to do things properly and legally.
“No one is running away from the Constitutional duties. Parliament adjourned based on the numbers we had. They lack numbers to take control of Parliamentary proceedings,” said PM Marape.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Opposition yesterday indicated that they would take the matter to court.