Dei Open seat in the Western Highlands goes for a by election

 The National Court in Waigani

Chuave open seat election petition

 The election petition challenge for the Chuave open seat in the Simbu province will resume in February next year when lawyers will have to address the court on the position of law regarding the passing of a petitioner.

Late Wera Mori (painting)

Petitioner Wera Mori, who is also the former MP had passed on when the election petition has progressed to the middle of it.

The court is placed in an awkward situation and Justice Lawrence Kangwia says the court would have to seek indulgence from the lawyers about this.

He said the organic law is very silent about situations like this when a petitioner passes on while an election petition is on foot.

 Following the lawyers making their applications on law whether the election petition case should proceed, the court will then hear no case submissions from lawyers.

Meanwhile lawyer for the petitioner late Wera Mori has told the court the late Wera Mori has not been laid to rest yet and his family wants the case to come to a finality and Chuave constituents should know who the real winner is.

Late Wera Mori, launching a program 

The petitioner has asked for a recount when challenging the win by Hon James Nomane.

Lawyer for Hon James Nomane has told the court there would be a lot of issues if the election petition is allowed to continue.

Among them, the lawyer cannot proceed without the absence of a petitioner who should provide instructions and counsel cannot manufacture instructions for a client.

Lawyer for Hon James Nomane has also raised issues on costs. They are concerned who would be responsible to pay for legal costs.

There will be 12 witnesses called and the trial was expected to take months.

Hon Nomane’s lawyer said its not simply a walk in the park.

The Electoral Commission lawyer  took similar stance with the incumbent MPs arguments.

The critical issue is if the relief sought by petitioner for a recount and he is successful, who then will enter Parliament when he has passed on.

These issues will be argued before the election petition court after lawyers have addressed the issue on law on what happens if the election petition is in foot and the petitioner dies.

The organic law is quite clear on when an MP passes on but not the petitioner.

 

Losing candidate asks court to review her election petition blaming court staff for failing to upload on time

Delay by the court registry to upload election petitions onto the courts electronic case management system  (IECMS) on time has become the subject of a Supreme Court review application

A female candidate Dianne Unagi Koiam who lost contesting the Moresby Northeast seat in Port Moresby during the 2022 national elections has applied to be granted leave to review.

The national court had earlier dismissed her election petition for being incompetent as it was filed out of time.

Diane Unagi Koiam is among two others, Peter Dominic and Andabanga Nelson Baliawe who are challenging the win by Hon John Kaupa.

Their petitions have been dismissed for being incompetent as they were filed out of time and they have all gone to the Supreme Court asking for leave to review.

Diane Unagi-Koiam's lawyer Gloria Salika has strongly argued that her client has been blamed for the incompetence of the court registry and this is creating issues with all other matters.

Ms Salika told the court her client has fulfilled the constitutional responsibility to file within the required 40 days but the incompetence of the court registry to upload on the electronic case management system has inconvenienced her client.

Justice Derek Hartshorn has asked if the circumstances had any direct conflict with law.

Lawyer Ms Salika said the delay in uploading to the electronic case management system was not in conflict with law but  was creating issues with all other matters.

With her clients case she told the court, referring to an evidence in the review book that her client’s election petition was filed on the 21 September 2022 at 9.30am and at 9.44am it was uploaded on the electronic case management system

 

She argued that for the registry to say it was filed on the 23 September goes against the facts she had referred to regarding her clients filing.

Hon John Kaupa’s lawyer Paul Mawa has asked the court to carefully consider grounds to review if there were injustices, exceptional circumstances and there were arguments of law and fact.

Mawa said there seems to be no apparent error made by the judiciary and the circumstances argued by Diane Unagi Koiam's lawyer may be unusual but not exceptional.

The electoral commission’s lawyer has pretty much leaned towards this defence and briefly said there were no important points of law raised and the security deposit together with filing fees were paid out of time rendering the petition incompetent.

 

 

 

 

PNG wants the relationship with Indonesia to expand into trade and economic relations

Following the  visit by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape to Jakarta, Indonesia in March 2022, Indonesia will reciprocate that with the official visit by President Joko Widodo.

The one day visit slated for July 6, 2023 has been finalised with the Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Andriana Supandi confirming the date.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape (l) and Indonesia President Joko Widodo 

Papua New Guinea and Indonesia forged bilateral ties since 1976 and Indonesia is the only country PNG shares a land and sea border with.

During the last 47 years the bilateral discussions were mostly centered around border relations.

There are existing issues of illegal border crossings, illegal trade of arms and drugs, illegal export of commodities like cocoa and spices. 

The political aspirations by Melanesian West Papuans  who occupy the western end of New Guinea has been a legacy issue.

Since 1969 they continue to press for political independence from Indonesia and successful PNG governments have maintained that the political struggle there is Indonesia's internal matter.

Prime Minister James Marape says the relations between the two countries must now move from talks on border issues to more on trade and economic relations, business-to-business relations and people-to-people relations.

Indonesia has in the last 20 years developed its Batas shopping centre near Wutung in West Sepik to a magnificent modern establishment and Papua New Guineans frequently visit to shop, access medical services, buy electronic appliance, eat at a restaurant or forge business relations with Indonesians-to list a few.

"We will go out of our way to welcome the leader of our closest neighbour, Indonesia, a growing economic powerhouse in the world. Papua New Guinea sees Indonesia as a huge market right at our doorsteps - which we must tap into," Marape said in a statement.

He acknowledged Indonesia as a nation that stood with PNG in many fronts, including being responsible for PNGs admission to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

“They have always been there for us in some difficult times, including the recent COVID-19 crisis, " Marape said. 

‘’I look forward to meeting President Widodo in Port Moresby next month.”

President Widodo’s visit to PNG follows other world leaders recent visits that included Indian Prime Minister Hon. Narendra Modi, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, New Zealand Prime Minister Hon. Chris Hipkins and all Pacific Islands leaders last month.

US secretary of state to visit PNG on behalf of President Joe Biden

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Papua New Guinea on May 22 to meet with Pacific Islands Forum leaders on behalf of President Joe Biden.  

The US Embassy has released a statement.

It says the Secretary will also meet with PNG Prime Minister James Marape  and sign a bilateral defense cooperation agreement and a bilateral maritime security agreement.  

PNGDF personnel parade to farewell Minister for Defence Filepic

The meetings will be followed by a joint press availability with Secretary Blinken, Prime Minister Marape, and Pacific Islands Forum Chair Hon. Mark Brown. 

President Joe Biden was supposed to make a historical visit to PNG enroute to Australia but had to defer it due to budget issues in the United States.

The PNG Governor General Sir Bob Dadae has gazetted a public holiday and security preparations were well under control with limited air space movements expected during the visit.

Belden Namah calls for Foreign Affairs Minister Justine Tkatchenko to resign

Papua New Guinea hosts world leaders from the United States in President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in less than two weeks time.

There will be 18 other Pacific Island leaders also in Port Moresby.

But the key government ministry who should be at the helm facilitating and leading the meetings is in turmoil with resonating calls for its Foreign Affairs Minister Justine Tkatchenko to resign.

The calls from the public on social media and now Vanimo Green River Open MP Hon. Belden Namah is resounding.

Namah is also Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Immigrations and Defence and he is issuing the call for Tkatchenko to resign as minister, MP and renounce his PNG citizenship.

Tkatchenko is a naturalised citizen and the calls for his resignation stem from his comments on ABC's Pacific Beat labelling Papua New Guineans who criticized his daughter Savannah for posting a video on social media TikTok doing shopping at Singapore's airport and then to London for the coronation of King Charles III as extravagant, waste of tax payer funds.

Tkatchenko has defended his daughters post and told the Post Courier he would not resign.

He told Post Courier the trip was not funded by public funds but later told ABC's Pacific Beat, it was funded by taxpayers.

Namah has called for his resignation after Tkatchenko allegedly labelled Papua New Guineans as  “useless people” and “primitive animals” on ABC.

"I am calling on the Foreign Affairs Minister to confirm or deny that he uttered those descriptions of citizens of Papua New Guinea which has been kind enough to offer him naturalized citizenship.

 

"If he has indeed uttered those despicable words then I am calling on Justin Tkatchenko to immediately resign as Foreign Affairs Minister and as Member of Parliament and further renounce his citizenship.

 

"The “useless people” and “primitive animals” of this country have ensured he grew his business, gave him a wife, offered him citizenship, elected him into public office, made him a minister and sent him and his daughter to London.

 

"Alternatively, I am calling on the Prime Minister to sack him immediately and withdraw his citizenship.

 

"I am also calling on the Immigration Minister to direct the Chief Migration Officer to immediately call a Citizenship Board Meeting to deal with Justin Tkatchenko.  The Agenda of the meeting should be Justin Tkatchenko breaching citizenship laws, rules and regulations of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

 

"As to the TikTok video, it just reveals the kind of shallow mentality and disregard for Papua New Guineans that the minister must have inculcated in his family.  It is unfortunate.

 

The name of the video says it all: #aussiesinengland.  Send them to Australia if that is who they are," Namah said.

Opposition Leader Joseph Lelang has also said Tkatchenko's comments were irresponsible and he agrees the Minister should resign. He told Pacific Beat.

Lelang said the words used promote segregation during pre independence era.

Prime Minister James Marape has not released a statement yet.

 

West Sepik politics a must observe region in 2022 National General Elections

A province not too highly acclaimed in the development index, West Sepik though has become famous in the last decade playing some influential roles in the making or breaking of Papua New Guinea governments.

Vanimo (Lido) village in the foreground and Vanimo Town at the back

Belden Namah, a former army captain in the PNG Defence Force and nicknamed "Skull" is undoubtedly a name indelibly inked to the province as a mover and shaker of PNG politics.

He is the incumbent Member of Parliament representing the people of Vanimo Green River district.

Vanimo Green River comprises the local level governments of Vanimo Urban, Bewani Wutung Onei, Walsa, Amanab and further south and inland from Vanimo is Green River.

Namah is also the Opposition Leader and he served almost more than 10 years in the opposition.

At one instance, he was "one man" opposition. 

A son of a laymen in the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church from Somboi village, Bewani in the hinterland south of Vanimo, he says he fears no one but God.

He was one of the pioneers of Vanimo Provincial High School and then attended Sogeri National High School before joining the PNGDF cadet program and studied at the Royal Military College, Duntron in Canberra.

He became famous during the Sandline crisis when him and other soldiers forced Sandline mercenary boss Tim Spicer to leave Papua New Guinea.

Namah was later charged with mutiny, found guilty by the court and sentenced to prison.

He was paroled in 2003 and pardoned by GC Sir Michael Somare in 2005.

He became so involved with landholders of logging projects in the Vanimo TRP area and Amanab FMA protesting against Vanimo Forest Products and demanding the Provincial Forest Management Committee (PFMC) award logging licences to landowner companies.

Namah became powerful with money and was chartering Air Niugini Fokker 100's to Vanimo frequently in leading two years before 2007.

The Momase region volleyball tournament was hosted in Vanimo mid 2007 and Namah was the major sponsor.

Riding on his fame as a local who joined other military personnel and went against a government decision, kicking out Sandline-Namah's fame grew more and more.

He contested the Vanimo Green River open seat endorsed by Sir Michael Somare's National Alliance Party and won.

Papua New Guinea prepares to host world leaders

Leaders of the world's largest economies will visit Papua New Guinea this month and security preparations have been worked at.

Prime Minister James Marape told the the media security is expected to be beefed up during their arrivals.

US President Joe Biden is expected to arrive on the afternoon of May 22, 2023- no specific time has been disclosed yet.

He will spend about three hours having bilateral talks with Prime Minister James Marape and other Pacific Island leaders.

About 18 Pacific Island leaders will be in Port Moresby as well.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive earlier on Sunday at 11pm local time.

Marape has urged citizens to afford both leaders the warmest PNG welcome.

He said there will be ample meeting time given to both leaders.

PNG seeks United States assistance to set better banking regulations

Key points

• PNG banking regulations not delivering expected services
• United States willing to help PNG 
• PNG must work with  international partners to lighten the burden as a result of unintended consequences of global regulations

Papua New Guinea Minister for Treasury Ian Ling-Stuckey met with the United States Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Kaproth in Korea discussing challenges around establishing better banking regulations and servicing the people.

PNG Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey MP meets the United States Treasury Team

“PNG’s banking regulations are not delivering good enough services for our people. Too many of our people are left unbanked, and those in the banking system face high costs and often poor services," Ling-Stuckey said in a statement following the meet with Kaproth.

Ling-Stuckey believes the United States can be a valuable friend as the country examines best global regulations.

He identified legacy issues like  many of our people are left unbanked, and those in the banking system face high costs and often poor services  are being rendered. 

Ling-Stuckey said part of the problem is domestic, where businesses keep telling him of excessive red tape. 

But he said the Marape-Rosso Government has targeted improved banking regulation as the key part of the second phase of recommended reforms to the Central Bank Act being examined by the Independent Advisory Group. 

He said part of the problem comes from international factors.

"Like other countries in the Pacific and Caribbean, are suffering the unintended consequences of well-meaning global regulation dealing with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. 

"As highlighted through my Chairing of the Pacific Governors Group at the recent Asian Development Bank annual meeting, we are asking for a stronger Pacific voice in the negotiation of international financial rules," Ling-Stuckey said in a statement.

The treasurer has outlined several issues to the US  Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary and he was sympathetic to the PNG issues.

“I outlined the challenges PNG were facing in response to these global rules. 

"Government cheques were regularly being bounced. At the district level, it was taking upwards of five months to clear a government cheque, even though it was paid from one government body to another government body. 

"Farmers were not able to bank the Kina they earned when selling their harvest, as often they could not prove their “source of funds”. 

“We must work with our international partners to lighten the burden on our families and farmers of the unintended consequences of global regulation,”  Ling-Stuckey said.

“I was pleased that the US offered to send a team to examine possible technical assistance to move back to a proper “risk-based” approach to our financial regulations. PNG needs some constructive advice, and it will help inform decision-makers in the US of how some global regulations are hampering our development. 

The Treasurer sad PNG has no economic crisis as PNG has record levels of foreign exchange reserves and a very healthy trade surplus. 

He said  the IMF program would build international confidence in backing the Marape-Rosso government's home-grown economic reforms. 

Ling-Stuckey said the historic visit by the US President Joe Biden on May 22, 2023 would have a positive impact on PNG and the Pacific with further discussions to continue on how PNG can also gain greater access to US grant funding programs. 

PNG remains friend to all as it courts US President this month

The race to have influence in the Pacific is reaching unprecedented momentum. China is seen by Western allies as a threat to Pacific's peace and stability.  Who should PNG be courting?

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the country is ready to receive and host United States President Joe Biden.

He released an official statement about Biden's visit after the White House confirmed it.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape

Biden will make a historical visit to Papua New Guinea on Monday May 22, 2023.

It would be a three hours stop over for Biden enroute to Australia.

Eighteen Pacific Island countries leaders' will also be in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea during that period and they will have the opportunity to meet the US President as well.

President Biden will have a bilateral meeting with PNG Prime  Minister James Marape and the other Pacific Island leaders.

The United States has recently opened a modern embassy office at Konedobu in Port Moresby and is funding electricity projects in Papua New Guinea.

Commentators say they can't recall when any US president has visited PNG, let alone any Pacific Island nation and this is certainly historical.

The Royal PNG Constabulary has already begun security preparations work for the US presidents visit.

Police Commissioner David Manning said details about the operations will not be disclosed but the security personnel have undergone some comprehensive training with their Australian counterparts during the hosting of Apec in 2018.

Apart from the US President, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will also be visiting PNG and the Pacific Island leaders will be meeting with him for the Forum for India Pacific Islands Corporation.

Prime Minister James Marape says PNG and other Pacific Island nations cannot be ignored when conversations concern the Indo-Pacific.

"With our combined forest and sea areas, we have the world’s greatest carbon sink, and the biggest sea and air space on earth. We also face the greatest threat to our existence as climate change affects our lifestyles and our economies," Marape said.

Marape said he was honoured that the US President had accepted the invite to visit PNG after their meetings in New York and Washington recently.

The US and its allies Australia and New Zealand have been wary of China's interventions in the Pacific and are stepping up their presence and development projects in the Pacific.

Marape has maintained that PNG remains committed to its foreign policy of friends to all and enemies to none, essentially trumpeting PNG will court China and anyone in progressing development agenda.

 

Papua New Guinea aims to pass a surplus budget by 2027

Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey says deficit budgeting aligned with a realistic budget can record surplus by 2027.

He says this can also reduce all sovereign debt by 2034.

Ling-Stuckey said this after the opening of a government funded K20 million Tapo bridge in the inland Rai Coast district of Madang Province.

Prime Minister James Marape was there to open the bridge with several State Ministers, Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa, Member for Rai coast Kessy Sawang and several members of parliament.

Prime Minister James Marape and other MPs during the opening of Tapo bridge; Source Facebook

The Treasurer said deficit budgeting aligned with realistic plan remains the appropriate and correct strategy for economic growth.

He said the Tapo bridge construction is an example of Marape-Rosso's deficit budgeting, with good cheap concessional financing, invested into infrastructure projects.

In addition to the Tapo bridge, a further contract for K120m was awarded to Covec PNG Ltd to replace six critical bridges at Mea, Dry Wara, Bora, Gusap and Wasigo sections, which will now allow 24 hour crossings even during times of major flooding which had stopped traffic and movement of people, Ling-Stuckey said in a statement.

PNG 2022 budget will not have much surprise: Prime Minister James Marape says

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has assured the nation that Treasurer Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey will deliver the nation’s 2022 Budget tomorrow amidst many political speculations.

“I want to assure Papua New Guinea that your Government is at work, despite many challenges and obstacles, and we will deliver our third Budget tomorrow,” he said.

“The handing down of the Budget is the single most-important parliamentary occasion of any government.

“With hangovers and effects of slowed economy due to COVID-19, your Government has used the last three years of National Budget to ensure our domestic economy was functional and alive, and our crucial services were maintained.”

“I want to assure our people and all stakeholders in our economy that we are responsible and prudent to ensure expected outcomes of our budget are achieved.”

PM Marape said Treasurer Ling-Stuckey would tomorrow “point that our path to economic recovery is correct, and with critical analysis by all multilateral Budget partners like ADB, IMF and World Bank, our positive trajectories show an increase in Gross Domestic Product for next year and beyond as well as a declining budget deficit trend”.

“Over the last two-and-a-half years, we have invoked the use of our money plan to ensure schools, hospitals, COVID-19 programmes, road construction, SME funds, retiring old debts and contractual obligations, paying outstanding industrial awards, etc, were our deliberate interventions to keep our economy functioning despite tough times,” he said.

“Our 2022 money plan will not have much surprises, except some key Government policy-based interventions that will be evident in both revenue and expenditure allocations, as Treasurer hands down the Budget tomorrow.

“We are trying our best to ensure our Budget embraces our national outcomes including opening up all parts of our country, intervening in sustainable economy, starting up Porgera, Papua LNG, Wafi-Golpu for our economy, paying for our children’s education in 2022 and beyond, building new hospitals, ramping up support to Bougainville, clearing up projects like new Supreme Court Building and ensuring the 2022 General Election is fully funded without disturbance.

“All the above we are doing whilst maintaining strict discipline in sticking to our money plan, with our development partners observing our discipline to reforms.

“Key is our reforms is to borrow low-cost US dollar denominated borrowings like the Australian $400-million dollar zero per cent interest lending, or the Japanese Government US$280million 0.01 per cent five-year grace period lending, which all came directly into our economy by way of Budget support.

“I just want to assure our people and our economic stake holders that we are going through tough times, but we will use the Budget policies wisely to share the load of burden and also ensure key infrastructure like the 1900 kilometres of road we built the last two years all over rural PNG is continued.

“And tomorrow, for the first time also, our Treasurer will put out a plan to bring our nation to surplus Budget by 2027 and reduce our national debt completely by mid 2030s.

“I am very optimistic because these tough times have taught us to be prudent and economically strong as we work forward into 2022 and beyond.

“Don’t believe the naysayers, be optimistic where ever you all are, be like the 360 small SMEs who borrowed cheaply from Bank South Pacific that Government has partnered with for SME lending and help your country.”

Source: Press Release

Major political power play to oust Peter O'Neill

A political power shift surprises Papua New Guinea at yet another weekend of political lobbying as Prime Minister Peter O'Neill faces a stiff indictment that he must forego his leadership.

The tone was clear for the last two months when several of his senior Cabinet ministers resigned and a breakaway by several coalition MPs took place reducing his government number to just more than 60.

His government defeated a potential vote of no confidence in early May 2019 by adjourning Parliament to the end of the month after successfully winning on majority votes, endorsing motions to change the composition of the members of the Private Business Committee.

He then attempted to ask the court to stay a potential vote of no confidence after the Opposition through Patrick Pruaitch filed a motion of no confidence.

This case apparently couldn't be heard by a three man bench of the Supreme Court, as there was no utility.

It was withdrawn by the Prime Minister's lawyers.

The circumstance was a result of an un predicted twist- while the case was on foot the Opposition withdrew its vote of no confidence motion on the premise that they would change the alternate Prime Ministerial nominee, replacing James Marape.

Two MP's who also defected from Peter O'Neill's coalition to the Opposition also back flipped- the increasing social media audience has described the MP's as "political ÿoyos". 

Peter O'Neill through Alotau MP and Treasurer Charles Abel after a long awaited press conference said the coalition was in tact and would defeat a vote of no confidence.

But it seems in PNG this is not true. In PNG politics one must guard its coalition members well and for O'Neill the trend of events meant he must be cautioned that anything can happen.

There was already a crack when his lieutenant and possibly the most trusted person, then leader of government business and Finance Minister James Marape resigned.

Marape's move has commanded, influenced and became an attraction for other MP's to add to the originally committed 24 Opposition MP's under Patrick Pruaitch.

The team dubbed the alternate government has now confirmed 62 members joining the camp, that is six more MP's than the required 56 MP's to successfully elect a Prime Minister.

Do we have a new government now? 

Their mission was to change the political leadership and end Peter O'Neill's reign of close to eight years.

Peter O'Neill was Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019

After holding firm about 49 MPs in the Opposition,  United Resource party Leader William Duma led his 11 MPs defecting from Peter O'Neill's camp at Crown Hotel and joined them at the Laguna Hotel.

Ministers for Higher Education Minister Pila Niningi, Police  Jelta Wong.

and in fact before all Commerce Minister Wera Mori announced his resignation as Minister and joined the opposition.

The number crunch is 62 and that includes 49 original MPs, then adding Wera Mori, Pila Niningi and 11 URP members led by Hagen MP William Duma.

James Marape says the camp still welcome like minded leaders from Peter O'Neill's side.

There are 111 seats in Parliament and with the Opposition commanding 62 basically means Peter O'Neill now runs a minority government.

Is this the end of his Prime Minister's term after ascending to the role controversially in August 2011?

The hurdles in ousting Peter O'Neill as Prime Minister

Intense lobbying is going on between politicians to muster numbers in electing a Prime Minister through a motion of no confidence against incumbent Peter O’Neill.

The motion is likely to be moved when Parliament resumes next week, May 7.

At this stage, we don’t know who would be the candidate.

Peter O’Neill though has enjoyed a strong and stable Government since his ascension and controversial election as Prime Minister on August 2, 2011.

He then successfully returned as Prime Minister after two national general elections- 2012 and 2017.

Peter O'Neill (right) sitting in Parliament

His ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) party in 2017 mustered majority of the electoral wins and was invited by the Governor General to form government which he did and enjoyed stability and cohesion since.

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was the last longest serving Prime Minister who held the post for a record nine years (2002 to 2011).

Despite Peter O’Neill’s much stabilised reign, there were serious and constant allegations labeled against his government for mismanagement, running the economy down, corruption, breaches of law, favoritism in offering contracts- allegations mainly issued by the Opposition, pressure groups and political commentators.

But Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has never been weakened and countered the allegations through some well crafted public relations responses playing down the severity of the allegations and pointing people to increased infrastructure developments.

He was loved, admired, praised and his coalition government numbers increased to a comfortable 86.

But the recent events of resignations by his government ministers’ (James Marape –Finance and Davis Steven- Justice and Attorney General) and MP’s defecting from his PNC party though minor from his standpoint- it’s been rattling and Papua New Guineans with their rationale conclude that things are not right within Peter O’Neill’s coalition.

If we were to prematurely crunch numbers, Peter O’Neill has about 79 members, that includes West Sepik’s Governor Anthony Wouwou who did an unorthodox move courting one anti-O’Neill camp comprising members of the Opposition, made news headlines that he had defected but within less the 24 hours made news headlines again courting his party leader Peter O’Neill and dispelling media reports he left the party.

Tari Pori MP James Marape (right) shaking hands with Morobe
 Governor Ginson Saonu, 

The Opposition has 24 members and excluding the Speaker, the balance of seven dissenting MP’s would most likely vote against Peter O’Neill.

While lobbying and strategic political maneuverings and discussions may not have reached the mass media, surely there are deep discussions behind the scenes.

People everywhere are watching with keen interest through social media, radio, TV, newspapers and online news media.

As it is, there are three options likely to eventuate after all the political hype and lobby against Peter O’Neill is settled within the next possible three weeks.

I say three weeks because a notice of motion to move a vote of no confidence has to be presented to the Speaker of Parliament, a week before it is moved.

The motion will be vetted by a committee chaired by the Speaker and the motion must be signed by several MP’s who also propose the alternate Prime Minister.

So there’s a bit of work to do for any one or group to first muster the magic number of 56 and then get the nod from the Speaker and his committee.

If Peter O’Neill was to survive the vote of no confidence, though he has been confident and firm that his coalition government was intact and as vibrant as ever, he must be reminded that cracks have surfaced from within and he must be at his best than ever to counter.

He must hold strong the 79 he has as turn of events indicate shocking decisions can be made when you least expect it.

He must first ensure he is not voted out in the party caucus meeting.

James Marape has been forthright this week, he wants the PNC party leadership to be tabled-essentially he says he does not want Peter O’Neill to lead the party and be the Prime Minister.

Does James Marape imply he was one of many within the party who desires a change in party leadership?

Peter O’Neill has since responded that Marape was not welcome in the party caucus meeting.

The second option which could work to replace Peter O’Neill as Prime Minister is a major dissent from within the government coalition who votes against him. Again the magic number is 56.

The third which uses a similar modus operandi as the above in the vote of no confidence-the person can be from the coalition government or the opposition but they must convince and secure 56 votes to oust Peter O’Neill.

The first hurdle though is an alternate Prime Minister must have been chosen within the next six days.

While that looms, Papua New Guineans observe with keen interest how this would ­­­­­eventually pan out as lobbying intensifies and THE day gets closer day by day.