GG declares Somare PM

By SAMUEL RAITANO
GOVERNOR-General Sir Michael Ogio yesterday declared Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as prime minister of Papua New Guinea.
The declaration was made yesterday based on a Supreme Court decision on Monday nullifying the O’Neill-Namah regime.
The announcement also came before parliament moved at about 3pm yesterday to suspend Ogio, automatically qualifying Speaker Jeffery Nape as acting governor-general.
Ministers aligned with Somare were sworn into office
yesterday.
“As head of state, I am duty-bound to uphold the Constitution and give effect to decisions and orders of the Supreme Court that have bearing on the performance of my vice regal duties, functions and responsibilities,” Ogio said.
“I am duty-bound to give full meaning and effect the recent Supreme Court decision, reference No.3 of 2011, whose orders have now been forwarded to me by the state solicitor.”
Ogio said based on the advice of state lawyers, he had recognised and restored the Somare government in accordance with the Supreme Court order.
It is understood that there was no need for Somare to be sworn in again as he had remained prime minister and only needed to have the post restored to him based on the court ruling.
Although the letter containing the court orders from State Solicitor Daniel Rolpagarea had the wrong date (Oct 24, 2011), this was brushed aside as “a typing error” and was not important.
Rolpagarea and secretary for Justice and Attorney-General Kapi Sarohafa said the mistake had come about because
the date and the letterhead were already in place on the blank do­cument and was  not noticed when the rest of the letter, giving
effect to the court order, was typed. 
The office of the governor-
general also refuted the suspension of Ogio, saying the O’Neill-Namah regime was not officially recognised and did not possess any constitutional powers.