Solicitor General, Tauvasa Tanuvasa, upon instruction from the Attorney General, filed a Supreme Court Special Reference on Tuesday, under section 19(1) of the Constitution, in relation to persons who are intending to stand for the Elections.

This follows concerns raised by the Attorney General that there are interested parties or persons intending to stand for the elections with criminal convictions against them.

The Attorney General through the Solicitor General seeks to establish clarification from the supreme court through this reference as to whether persons who are convicted by a court of competence jurisdiction are eligible to nominate or eligible to stand for office.

With the National General Elections set to begin in April, the Solicitor General says he hopes to expedite the matter quickly, so clarification is obtained from the Supreme Court on questions raised in the Special Reference.

The questions in the Special Reference arise from section 103(3) and (6), and section 50(1) of the Constitution which relates to the right to vote and stand for public office and qualifications for and qualifications from membership.

While there are no similar Special Reference filed in the past, Tanuvasa says this Special

Reference is prompted by comments made by the Courts in relation to the case of Mr. James Yali, former Madang Governor, who was convicted and jailed for rape, later freed by the courts, and allowed to contest in the 2017 National General Elections.

Tanuvasa said, while Mr. Yali’s case was dealt with on its own merits, the questions that are now raised in the Special Reference relate to whether persons who have been convicted should then be allowed to stand for elections.

“This Special Reference in a way deals with the issue generally, so that all persons know where they stand in terms of the elections, adding this will assist the Electoral Commissioner to make decisions regarding persons who fall in this category.”

Other issues arise, in regards to ‘power of mercy’ committee. Whether people who go to ‘power of mercy committee’ after conviction are cleared (if approved by the committee). Conviction is on record, says Tanuvasa.

“The ‘power of mercy’ does not wipe clean the conviction. It only pardons, under s.103 of the Constitution.”

“This issue comes to light as a result of many concerns raised by the public, the people of Papua New Guinea. Adding the supreme court will help to clarify the issue before or during the elections.

“Those that fall in the category should then be mindful of whether they should contest the National General Elections,” he said.

With reference served to relevant parties under s.19(1) of the Constitution, the matter is set to have its first directions hearing next week Tuesday, 15th March 2022 to progress the matter to a full substantive hearing.

Boera village was officially given keys to a new two storey community Hall Building.

Mineral Resources Development Company Ltd (MRDC) under its Gas Resources PNG-LNG Plant Ltd (GR-PNGLNG PL) Community Infrastructure Trust Fund (CITF) with support from Exxon Mobil PNG, were able to deliver the project to Boera, one of the four impacted Central villages involved along the PNG-LNG plant site.

The CITF delivers infrastructural projects as a portion of benefits to these villages of which Boera is one of them.

Exxon Mobil Plant Manager, Justine Claudio said the partnership between two companies enables them to deliver CITF projects to the four villages at the plant site.

“We really appreciate the partnership with the Gas Resources and its directors since they took office, not only in this project but in other projects in all four villages located in the plant site”, said Claudio.

Meanwhile Managing Director for MRDC, Augustine Mano was honored to be part of the opening ceremony; he said this was one of the first villages to have received dividends to the PNG LNG projects.

“In 2016, in this very place we distributed the first dividends to the PNG-LNG project”.

“It was not easy to put a project like this, it’s the first of its kind that we have done under the CITF projects, creating a community centre is like a hub, where it becomes a venue to host certain occasions. We supported the proposal handed to us by the village councils”, said Mano.

Mr Mano said, investing in such infrastructural projects is a worthwhile investment as the last community hall lasted for at least 30 years and with the upgraded hall, it can go for another 30-40 years.

The opening ceremony was also witnessed by Kairuku-Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo who also presented a cheque of K10, 000 to the women fellowship group, who are the new care takers of the new Boera Community Hall.

Residents of Manam Island are in immediate need of food rations and other necessities after their housing and food and water sources were destroyed by heavy ashfall and scoria from the eruption on Tuesday night.

Yabu LLG President, Kenny Boli, said effects of the eruption were felt by Yassa, Zogari, Waia, Madauri and Dugulava villages.

Garden crops destroyed by ash
He said most of the islanders planted their food gardens closer to the crater of the volcano. Those gardens have now been destroyed by the eruption, leaving the islanders without food and clean drinking water.

The eruption once again highlights the existing plight of the islanders living in Care Centers on the mainland since being evacuated after two eruptions of the Manam Volcano in 2004 and 2005.

Those who moved to the Care Centers have been vocal about the daily struggles of living there. Land and resources are now scarce due to an increase in their population.

Boli is appealing to the Provincial Government through the disaster office, NGOs and stakeholders to assist the affected islanders.

Hundreds of Port Moresby residents have participated in a walk to launch the International Women’s Day, which will be celebrated on the 8th of March.

Hosted by Active City Development Program, under the National Capital District Commission, it is a call to accelerate equal participation of women in all aspects of life.

Continuous support towards this annual women employment program came from Spotlight Initiative, UNFP, UN Women and JICA.

With a number of events planned for this week the theme for IWD 2022 is *Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Yesterday’s walk started at Sir Hubert Murray station and ended at South Side at Koki