Naru, Sir Puka accept petitions

By GABRIEL LAHOC and ELIAS NANAU
THREE MPS, including Morobe Governor Kelly Naru and Minister for Public Service Sir Puka Temu, who were said to be avoiding petitions challenging their election, agreed to receive them yesterday.
The third was Speaker Theo Zurenuoc who accepted his petition but his supporters were clearly unhappy with the manner and the place it was served on him.
Naru and Finschaffen MP Zurenuoc were served their petitions after they were sworn into the Morobe provincial government yesterday.
Naru said he would continue to serve as governor unless ordered otherwise.
The Speaker was served by an unidentified person straight after the swearing-in ceremony when the crowd was mingling with members of the Morobe provincial assembly at the car park.
In full view of the public that had attended the ceremony, Zurenuoc went down on his knees
and used a chair to put the
documents on to sign.
He was then whisked away in Bulolo MP and deputy opposition leader Sam Basil’s vehicle.
Some of the members of the public were not happy at the way the Speaker was served, saying he deserved more respect and should have been notified before serving him the papers.
Naru was served his by First Const Chris Miria, an officer in-charge of warrant and summons at the Lae police prosecution office and was acting on behalf of former governor Luther Wenge.
A relaxed Naru excused himself from the luncheon hosted in his honour at the Lae International Hotel and accepted the 12-page petition in front of his wife Stella,
Huon Gulf MP Ross Seymour, Engineering battalion commanding officer Lt-Col John Giregire and media.
“I have been served an election petition issued out of the court of disputed returns by my predecessor Luther Wenge disputing my election but I haven’t gone through it.
“I will seek independent legal advice and then vigorously defend it in court,” Naru said.
Abau MP, Sir Puka confirmed he had received the petition from losing candidate Kei Vuatha Kapa earlier in the week upon arrival from an overseas trip.
“I returned (on Tuesday) and immediately called Vuatha Kapa to my office at Morauta House,” Sir Puka said.
“He walked in at 2.30pm, I received the court documents and I signed,” Sir Puka said.