Dadae to be sworn in

By MALUM NALU
PARLIAMENT will go ahead with the swearing-in of Governor-General Bob Dadae next Tuesday, despite the death of his predecessor Sir Michael Ogio, says Acting Clerk Kala Aufa.
He said Sir Michael’s funeral would take place after Dadae’s swearing-in ceremony. Sir Michael, whose term was to end next week, died at his home in Port Moresby on Saturday afternoon after he had been ill for some time.
He took over the vice-regal position in January 2011.
Dadae was recently elected by Parliament to succeed him, becoming the 10th governor-general of the country. Aufa said Parliament would most likely sit on Wednesday and Thursday after the swearing-in.
But he could not say what would be on Parliament’s agenda or bills to be debated as he had not received anything from the First Legislative Counsel.
He also said electricity supply to Parliament had been restored after it was disconnected last Wednesday because of the non-payment of about K600,000 to PNG Power Ltd.
This was after a meeting with Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari and the management of PNG Power Ltd on outstanding bills by Government agencies, including Parliament.