Opposition disappointed with ruling

THE opposition yesterday expressed disappointment over the leadership tribunal’s decision to recommend a two-week suspension of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare as penalty for not properly furnishing annual returns between1994 and 1997.
Deputy opposition leader Bart Philemon, when informed of the decision, said: “Furnishing returns by leaders is the first step in ensuring that leaders are transparent and held accountable on their earnings.
“What this decision means is that no one, including the Ombudsman Commission, tasked to enforce the Leadership Code, are able to know whether there have been any benefits or otherwise by Sir Michael during those periods.
“This landmark case sets a precedent for other leaders to hide their earnings because all they can expect is a two-week suspension.”
Philemon said the opposition’s focus was on how this case would impact on integrity of the PM’s office, accountability of leadership in governance, perceptions on applicability of the rule of law and the unnecessary delay that allowed the prime minister to remain at the helm of PNG.
“The prime minister is the nation’s chief executive. It forms the heart and nerve of decision-making that affects the country.
“The occupant of the office, therefore, must be – without comprise – squeaky clean.
“The Somare leadership tribunal took less than two weeks to hear and conclude its findings and present its recommendations.
“But Sir Michael delayed this case through what seems now, in retrospect, unnecessary delays.”
The opposition, however, commended eminent judges Roger Gyles, Sir Bruce Robertson and Sir Robin Auld demonstrating that cases like this could be dispensed, without fear or favour, in an expedited way.
“On the other hand, I also regret that PNG national judges of the Supreme Court and National Court were not given the opportunity to prove to the rest of the nation their objectivity and application of the rule of law without fear or favour,” Philemon said.
“The three members of the tribunal can now leave our shores but we, including PNG judges, have to live here with this new precedence set on this landmark case.”