NEW IRELAND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT INTACT

The New Ireland Provincial Government under the leadership of Acting Governor Sammy Missen is still intact despite the Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt illegally instructing the Assembly clerk Ao Ure to conduct an illegal session of Assembly for his own convenience to be elected Governor on Friday 28th March.

Leader of Government business Edwin Maingen said the Assembly sitting was illegal because under the Organic law on Provincial & Local Level Governments and standing orders of the Assembly it is the Chairman of the Assembly that has the powers to convene a meeting of the Assembly.

He said,” When there is a vacancy in the office of the Governor as per section 14 (3 ) (d) The Deputy Governor shall perform the functions and responsibilities of the Governor as Chairman of the Provincial Assembly. So my question is who chaired the illegal meeting?”

He said the office of the Deputy Governor is a constitutional office as captured under section 18 (1 ) and he has never vacated, been dismissed or resigned from office as per section 18 (a) (b) (c) of the law. Acting Governor Sammy Missen said it was obvious the MP for Namatanai wants to become the next Governor of New Ireland unopposed but the Provincial Assembly is a constitutional entity and guarded by it’s own jurisdictions and standing orders separate to the National Parliament and must be respected as a house of the people.

He said Schnaubelt’s behavior yesterday was similar to a tyrant and dictator and questioned why he was in a hurry to become Governor without being elected through a legal sitting of the Assembly. “No one is stopping Schnaubelt from becoming Governor, but due process must be followed.

And yesterday’s bulldozing into the Assembly Chambers without my presence as the Chairman of the Assembly is deemed illegal,” said Missen. He also said the letter by the Minister for Provincial & Local Level Government affairs Soroi Eoe did not give them the legal right to convene the Assembly sitting forthwith without him being the legal authority of the house being present to preside the meeting.

Gorgor was placed outside the New Ireland Legislative Assembly gates after the illegal sitting. Maimai Stanley Peni acting on behalf of the Provincial Government said the sitting was illegal and any disputes have to be settled in court.

The acting Governor has also called for New Irelanders to remain calm and for the Police force to maintain neutrality while the Provincial Government deals with the courts.