Show of strength prevails in 71-0 vote

PARLIAMENT, in defiance of the Supreme Court, moved swiftly using its numerical strength  to vote 71-0 and  confirm the decision to declare the East Sepik regional seat vacant.
Jimi MP and Minister assisting the prime minister Wake Goi said the amendment to the Prime Minister and National Executive Council Act was to plug a loophole from abuse in relation to a prime minister seeking medical treatment for a longer period than three months.
“On Friday, Dec 9, parliament voted to rescind its motion to grant leave of absence to the former member for East Sepik regional which has been effected by the governor-general and gazetted.”
“This does not stop a similar situation to occur in the future where authorities of government responsible for the reporting of any absence of the prime minister to parliament either by collusion with intention to abuse or by plain inefficiency, fail to comply with the constitutional requirements of section 143 (1) relating to medical grounds, especially the seeking of treatment overseas and for a longer period than three months by the prime minister.”
“This bill in section 2, 3 and 4 seeks to plug that loophole permanently from future abuses by governments.”
“It also validates in section 5 and 6, the arrangements parliament agreed to on Aug  2 and last Friday Dec 9 on the appointment of Peter O’Neill as prime minister.”
“I want to inform the honourable members that section 6 of the Bill is only a transitional arrangement that will lapse upon the return of writs for the 2012 general election next year.”
Parliament later in the afternoon used that same amendment to declare the East Sepik regional seat vacant and Speaker Jeffery Nape called for nominations in defiance of the Supreme Court ruling to restore the Somare government.
It forced a stand-off between police at the Government House preventing Prime Minister-elect Peter O’Neill from being sworn in by the governor-general.