EHP GOVERNOR QUERIES LOOPHOLES IN ELECTION PETITION LAW
By WANPIS AKO
Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu queried the Attorney-General Davis Steven about the law (s) governing the Election Petition.
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| Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu with his officials in Port Moresby |
Amidst what he claimed a loophole on the part of the legislation, Mr Numu said, failing to do cross-check on the petitioners who were also alleged to have committed the similar offences yet they were seen fit and proper to register their case at the court and pursue it.
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| National and Supreme Court house in Port Moresby |
During Question time in Parliament last week, he proposed that should be fixed.
In his response, Minister Steven said it had affected those who have their elections being challenged.
"It is an important principle that has been lacking in the country as it was not entrenched in the law.
"The review, he said, should also be extended to the security of cost to increase the threshold which is K5000 at the moment," he said.
He said a reform was needed in the law to address the issue raised by the governor, adding it was a serious injustice done to the respondents.
Papua New Guinea's National Court of Disputed Returns has recorded a high number of election petitions-more than 70 election petitions. The tempo in handling the cases by judge administrator Justice Collin Makail and his team is commendable.
It has already defeated the principle 'justice delayed is justice denied.' Some have been disposed of in a less than a year when comparing to the previous years.
Author Reference: Wanpis Ako has graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Public Relations. He has briefly worked with two daily newspapers of Papua New Guinea-The National and Post Courier. His work experience has been extended into the Prime Minister Media Unit and the office of Parliamentary Opposition Leader of Papua New Guinea- not to mention the Ministries of Treasury, Higher Education, Communications, Information Technology and Energy. He has got over five years experience in digital marketing, branding, public affairs, media and public relations.
Author Reference: Wanpis Ako has graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Public Relations. He has briefly worked with two daily newspapers of Papua New Guinea-The National and Post Courier. His work experience has been extended into the Prime Minister Media Unit and the office of Parliamentary Opposition Leader of Papua New Guinea- not to mention the Ministries of Treasury, Higher Education, Communications, Information Technology and Energy. He has got over five years experience in digital marketing, branding, public affairs, media and public relations.
