Govt using court to suppress vote: Marape

By JEFFREY ELAPA
OPPOSITION spokesman James Marape, pictured, says the Government is going back to court on the vote of no-confidence motion because it lacks the numbers to defeat it in Parliament.
The Government filed an application on Wednesday asking the Supreme Court to stay the motion pending the determination of a reference relating to the issue filed last year by former justice minister Davis Steven. It is expected to be heard today.
Tari-Pori MP Marape is the Opposition’s nominee for prime minister if the motion, which they filed last week against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, is passed in Parliament. It is expected to be processed when Parliament resumes on May 28.
Marape said yesterday the Government was using the court to suppress the processing of the no-confidence motion.
“There should be no unnecessary adjournment of parliament if you have the numbers,” he said.
“If he (O’Neill) has the numbers, why go to the court?
“He must be confident with his numbers and allow parliament to sit right through after May 28 and for at least two weeks.”
Marape said O’Neill’s leadership was put in question when five of his senior Cabinet ministers, including him, resigned.
The five are Marape (Finance), Sir Puka Temu (Health), Steven (Justice), Solan Mirisim (Defence) and William Samb (Bougainville Affairs).
He said three governors – Sir Peter Ipatas (Enga), William Powi (Southern Highlands) and Philip Undialu (Hela) – had also left the ruling People’s National Congress party.
“It is only fair for him to reaffirm his mandate by allowing the process (of tabling the motion in Parliament) to run,” he said.