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‘Runaway expenditures’ in department cited by O’Neill

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Feb. 28, 2012) – Prime Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday removed all financial powers from major coalition partner Don Polye. Polye, who leads the new Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party, and who was instrumental in putting O’Neill in power, was until yesterday Finance and Treasury Minister.

Today, he is vested with Treasury, Border Development, and a sprinkling of statutory institutions.

In a letter, O’Neill informed Polye that his removal stemmed from recent events concerning the payout of landowner funds and also cited "runaway expenditure" in the Department of Finance.

Polye only last week assured frustrated gas and oil landowners in Port Moresby that they would be paid their Infrastructure Development Grants (IDG), but only after all necessary government processes had been completed.

Last Friday, the landowners converged on Morauta Haus, which...

House, Senate try to prevent employees from walking out

By Haidee V. Eugenio

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Feb. 29, 2012) – Both the Senate and House are trying to calm Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. management and employees who might make good on their threat of walking out of their jobs over the financial crisis at the hospital, as lawmakers weigh further actions on two CHC-related bills that passed the Senate on Thursday night.

The Senate told two CHC officials and one concerned doctor from the private sector yesterday that the Senate actually gave a bit more to CHC than originally proposed in the $11.58 million line of credit measure, or House Bill 17-278, if one takes into account a second substituted legislation, H.B. 17-261, that they also passed Thursday night.

That second bill, HB 17-261, Senate Substitute 1, would amend the fiscal year 2012 budget law to make the $5 million "seed" money appropriated to CHC as the state share of the required...

Clandestine trip claims ‘no rule of law in any meaningful sense’

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Feb. 28, 2012) – The chairperson of a British law group, who made a covert trip to Fiji at the end of last year, says Fiji’s legal system is in a dire state.

A branch of the Law Society of England and Wales has issued a report on the state of rule of law in the country and urged action by groups such as the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the International Bar Association.

Law Society Charity’s chair, Nigel Dodds, met lawyers and others while on a private visit to Fiji in November following concern the Fiji regime would not change its position on allowing in independent scrutiny.

Mr. Dodds says his investigations found that while there is an appearance of an independent judiciary and legal system, this is not fulfilled by reality and there is no rule of law in any meaningful sense.

"There are no lawful methods for any...

Upcoming election adds pressure to Supreme Court decision

By Jacob Pok

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Feb. 28, 2012) – The Supreme Court is to set a timeframe on how proceedings will run during the hearing of the case to determine whose government is legitimate.

The court is mindful of the national general election and wants to resolve the issue before April 27 when the writ of election will be issued.

The court will hear two special references filed by Dr. Allan Marat and parliament.

They contain constitutional questions relating to the actions of parliament since Aug 2 last year which sparked off the political confusion over who is prime minister.

The Supreme Court had ruled on Dec. 12 that Sir Michael Somare should remain Prime Minister.

But Peter O’Neill, with the support of parliament, said he was entitled to the position and should govern the country.

The Supreme Court three-judge bench is headed by Deputy...