Court allows intervention in VONC case

A SUPREME Court reference questioning the legality of the process on how Prime Minister James Marape was elected has been adjourned to allow time for interested parties to file applications to intervene.
Justice Oagile Key Dingake adjourned the matter to Oct 28 after lawyer Greg Sheppard, representing Opposition Leader Belden Namah, took no issues with the four parties who showed an interest to be interveners to the reference.
The four interveners who will file applications are Prime Minister James Marape, Justice Minister and Attorney–General Davis Steven, Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat and Speaker Job Pomat.
The reference was initially filed by former Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch on Aug 13.
He joined the Government shortly after he took the matter to court.
The reference is seeking leave of the court to interpret section 50, 59, 108, 142, and 158(2) of the Constitution addressing any purported withdrawal of the nomination for the vacant position of the prime minister, other than the nominator, as unconstitutional.
This application takes issue with Speaker Job Pomat when he accepted, then withdrew Pruaitch’s nominated candidate, former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in June.