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Calls to defer polls, extend Parliament
defended
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
THE accusations by three Members of Parliament regarding the work of the
Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Law and Order have been branded as
totally unfounded and baseless.
Chairman and Laiagam/Porgera MP Kappa Yarka and his deputy and Kompiam/Ambum
MP Dickson Maki last week defended the work of the committee in response
to accusations from Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye, Rabaul MP Dr Allan
Marat and Anglimp South Waghi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham.
The leaders accused the committee of lobbying to defer the coming
national election and to extend Parliament for another 12 months so the
Government could address some of the pressing issues on law and order
and common roll updates.
Mr Yarka said that his committee was set up by an Act of Parliament to
get people’s views on law and order in the country and the accusations
from Dr Marat and Mr Maxtone-Graham was unbecoming.
Mr Yarka said stakeholders, comprising provincial leaders, public
servants, business leaders and university student leaders, after
witnessing lawlessness in the Highlands region called for the deferral
of the national election and the extension of Parliament.
“I made it clear to the meeting in Goroka, Kundiawa and Mount Hagen that
it would be unconstitutional to extend the life of the Parliament,” he
said.
He said it was the people in the Highlands who insisted that there were
pressing issues that had to be identified and resolved in order for a
smooth and trouble-free election to take place.
The two Engans politicians said comments by their colleague MPs and Mr
Polye calling on them and other highlands leaders to control the law and
order situation in the region was contradicting Mr Polye’s leadership.
The MPs said Mr Polye was from one of the most troubled districts and
provinces and should reflect on his leadership before making unfound
accusations.
 
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