COURT CANNOT OVERRIDE PARLIAMENTARY STANDING ORDERS|SPEAKER

By Benjamin KOITAKA

COURT Cannot override the Parliamentary Standing Order, says National Speaker Job Pomat, while entertaining questions without notice before debating the Vote of No Confidence motion as per Ordered by Supreme Court.

Speaker Pomat said he would go with the Parliament Standing Orders section 93, to entertain Questions be put, before debate of the VoNC to continue.

Mr Pomat says there are process and procedures in the Parliament that needs to follow before entertaining the debate and if he does entertain the debate, that is against and abuse of the Parliamentary Standing Order powers.

However, Opposition strongman Kerenga Kua told Speaker and Parliament that Speaker should entertain debate as per court’s order and inline with Parliamentary Standing Order section 161, which states that questions comes after debate or completion of debate.

Yet, Speaker of Parliament Pomat continued with VoNC, asking the members to cross the Floor and voted for their Prime Minister candidates James Marape or Grand Chief Sir Peter Ipatas.