Speaker: Report unaltered

 SPEAKER Theo Zurenuouc says the parliamentary report on the amendments to Section 124 and Section 145 of the Constitution are authentic.

He said it was never altered as claimed by Deputy Opposition leader Sam Basil.

When asked by Basil on Friday, Zurenuouc said the report presented and circulated in parliament was the original one presented by the parliamentary committee on Constitutional law, bills and subordinates and was never altered.

“The content was the findings of the committee. I have ascertained the facts and it was the original report,” he said. 

“However there were two statements circulated and the one the deputy opposition leader was referring to was the one that was mistakenly circulated by parliament ushers,” he said.

He said he was satisfied and allowed the chairman to present his report. 

He said the allegation by Basil was misconceived and misleading to the media and the public.

He said the statement did not in any way affect the report and it was the discretion of the chairman to present whichever statement he preferred to present.

“I’m saying this for the benefit of the people and the media in particular because you have misled parliament and the people,” Zurenuoc said.

“If you think there was a mistake then you should have raised it on the floor. 

“I don’t see any reason when it was not raised on the floor on Thursday when I prolonged debate.

“It is a key lesson to everyone. We need to verse our part to know the standing orders.”

Zurenuouc said he would not refer the leader of government business James Marape and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional law, bills and subordinates Solan Mirisim as they had not violated any standing orders.

Mirisim said he used his discretion and had not abused any parliamentary standing orders.