PM not treating leaders well, says MP

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has called to stop destroying young and vibrant leaders who have been mandated by the people.

Anglimp-South Waghi MP Jamie Maxtone Graham said during a media conference yesterday that the tactic used by the prime minister was destroying young leaders who should be trained as future leaders.

He said many leaders like Don Ploye, Sir Puka Temu and Sam Abal had been dumped through his divide-and-rule tactics and that should stop.

“There should be some exit strategy and that should train good leaders that could run this nation rather than serving self interest. 

“Do not destroy good leaders who are capable of running this nation. 

“I won’t be surprised if Abal is changed as the Deputy Prime Minister as he had done to others,” Maxtone-Graham said.

He said as a leader, he was concerned about how tSir Michael was treating the good young leaders who he should be grooming.

Meanwhile, Maxtone-Graham said the come back of Sir Michael was seen as a political mockery and a continuous breach of the constitution in the eyes of the people and the international community.

According to legal sources, the move by Sir Michael to come back and resume duties contradicts section 27 of the constitution which states that when a leader has been found guilty of misconduct in office by the Ombudsman Commission should not be allowed to perform duties of a leader after his integrity is being questioned.

The source stated that Sir Michael should also fall in the same category as the former and now sidelined Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch.

The source said that under no circumstance has a leader entitled to leave like the 

public servants who were contracted officers and 

therefore Sir Michael does not qualify for any leave as stated by his chief of staff Paul Bengo.

Once the leadership tribunal is established next month by the Chief Justice, the parliament will be recalled to elect a new prime minister.

He said the post of prime minister would be voted on the floor of parliament which was required under the constitution.