Court shelves order

A CONSENT order obtained by the Eastern Highlands acting administrator to remain in office was set aside by the National Court on Friday.
Samson Akunaii got the consent order on July 20 seeking to hold off the position from the newly appointed administrator John Gimisive.
Governor Peter Numu’s application to set aside the consent order, was heard on July 22, and the ruling was given on Friday.
Justice Les Gavara-Nanu ruled that the consent order was “irregular” and ordered for it to be set aside, firstly because the governor, being the primary defendant, was never consulted of the consent order.
He (Numu) has never given his approval for the consent order to be executed and because he was not aware of the consent order, he was not represented by a lawyer.
The court set aside the consent order, effectively meaning the acting appointment of Akunaii ceases and Gimiseve be the provincial administrator. Gimiseve was appointed by National Executive Council.
Niuage lawyer George Lau, representing Numu in a press conference on Friday, said once the published decision was signed and sealed by the court, copies of the court decision would be given to relevant departments.
Lau said the substantive matter would be heard on Sept 9.
Gimiseve said the dispute for the position was a setback for development in the province and plans to focus on getting government plans for development would continue from where he had left two months ago.
Among the projects that had stalled was the Goroka Main Market.
He appealed to public servants and the people of Eastern Highlands to put their differences aside and work together.
“We are dragging behind by about 18 months because of what we have been going through,” Gimiseve said.