Muthuvel is still governor

STATE Enterprises Minister Sasindran Muthuvel says he is still West New Britain governor and will chair the election of a new governor tomorrow.
Muthuvel made the comments when expressing disappointment at the allegations made against him by Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang recently.
He said Lelang’s statement was both misleading and defamatory when he said he was no longer the governor and secondly, when he alleged corruption and undue influence in the process of appointing a new governor.
“The Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments, in section 19 (1) (b), states that once a provincial member is appointed as a state minister he vacates the office of the provincial governor.
“However, section 19(4) of the same Organic Law makes it clear that notwithstanding this, the provincial member continues as governor until the provincial assembly elects a new governor among the MPs from the province,” Muthuvel said.
“This intent of the law is to ensure a smooth transition and avoid circumstance of confusion, so for the time being I continue as West New Britain governor and will chair the election.”
Muthuvel said the Attorney-General and the department had confirmed his claim.
“I am saddened to learn of camps being set up to support lobbying efforts to elect a new governor.
“I hear accounts of intimidation, harassment and threats to sack both elected leaders and bureaucrats. This is completely unacceptable and I urge all involved to refrain from unlawful conduct and to allow a free and fair process to prevail to allow provincial assembly members to exercise their right to choose at the appropriate time the new governor,”he said.
Muthuvel said he would support whoever was elected the new governor.
He dismissed Lelang’s allegation of corruption as “ridiculous.”