Marape files application to intervene on adjournment case

PRIME Minister James Marape has filed an application to intervene in a case questioning whether last month’s parliament adjournment to April 20 was constitutional.
The case was filed by Opposition Leader Belden Namah in the Supreme Court, raising issues in the manner in which Speaker Job Pomat conducted the parliament sitting on Dec 16 in which the 2021 Budget was passed before it adjourned to April 20.
Marape, through his lawyer McRonald Nale of Jema Lawyers, submitted that the application seeks orders which will directly affect his position as the prime minister.
Order 3 (c) of the application requests under the powers of the Supreme Court in s.155 of the constitution, that the speaker recall parliament to debate and vote on the motion of vote of no confidence as a matter of national urgency.
The Opposition moved the motion of no confidence against Marape on Dec 16.
Namah’s lawyer, Greg Sheppard of Young and Williams, opposed the application, saying Marape did not have any particular interest in the matter before the court.
Sheppard argued that the main issue in the application was whether parliament’s decision to adjourn to April 20 in the Dec 16 sitting was constitutional.
“The issue before the court is whether or not parliament was constitutionally adjourned on Dec 16,” he said.
“There is nothing he can say in this proceedings which other interveners could not.”
Justice Derek Hartshorn reserved the decision for later this week before a date can be fixed for hearing on Namah’s standing.