News | Thursday 30th June, 2011 |
bal: Govt is stable
* No answer to possible crisis
* Sir J says Govt unstable
* Govt was wrong - lawyer
* Sir J says Govt unstable
* Govt was wrong - lawyer
By Jonathan TanNos and Yehiura Hriehwazi
ACTING Prime Minister, Sam Abal, did not give a clear indication yesterday as to where PNG is headed in light of the Somare family’s expressed desire for their father and Grand Chief Sir Michael to retire completely from politics due to his serious medical condition.
Amid the confusion and political undercurrents, Mr Abal told leading corporate executives at Crowne Plaza Hotel that there was political stability in government which saw it through the 2012 General Elections despite rising and falling temperatures in Parliament.
But that stability was seriously questioned yesterday by another founding father of the nation, Sir Julius Chan (New Ireland Governor), who is now the only remaining MP who first entered the House of Assembly in 1968 with Sir Michael (Story on Page 2).
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Abau MP, Sir Puka Temu, also called on constitutional office holders like Electoral Commissioner, Registrar of Political Parties, Chief Ombudsman and Attorney General to come forward and tell the nation about what should happen next.
In the meantime, a senior government legal officer said two medical doctors should have been appointed to monitor the PM’s condition (Story Page 3).
Mr Abal played down the likelihood of a constitutional crisis and spoke of the political stability of the last 10 years and the Government’s achievements.
He said the stability was a record for the country from 2002 under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, now undergoing medical treatment in Singapore.
Mr Abal was speaking during his opening address delivered to chief executive officers of State-owned enterprises in their one-day consultancy review at the hotel. He paid tribute to Sir Michael following the announcement by his son and Minister for State Enterprises, Arthur Somare, on Tuesday of the family’s decision to retire him from office.
Mr Abal said following the announcement on Tuesday, numerous calls from people in all walks of life had poured in, adding “it is nice to know the feelings of our people towards our leader”.
He told the CEOs that the Government would remain until the next elections “although we’ve had temperatures rising and dropping on the floor of Parliament”.
He said there were already political rumblings following the Tuesday’s retirement announcement to that effect. However, he chose not to delve into the matter. He continued to cite stability over the 10 years, describing it as “the most successful in the history of this young nation”.
“With political stability came the fruits of broad-based economic development that has touched most corners of this land,” he said.
“He came to political power again at a time the nation was at its lowest ebb.
“He leaves at a time of unparalleled opportunities for the country’s youth with major job creation underway for the first time in our history and thousands of new training opportunities created for jobs of the future.
“Sir Michael’s retirement is the start of a new era.
“He led this country into independence 36 years ago, before most of the current generation were born.
“He proved himself as its greatest political leader by winning several general elections.
“I will forever be grateful that when Sir Michael knew that he would undergo major open heart surgery and he decided last December to anoint me as his chosen successor, a prospect I had never anticipated.
“Because of the confidence of the Grand Chief, I have humbly, and with enthusiasm, accepted his challenge.”
Amid the confusion and political undercurrents, Mr Abal told leading corporate executives at Crowne Plaza Hotel that there was political stability in government which saw it through the 2012 General Elections despite rising and falling temperatures in Parliament.
But that stability was seriously questioned yesterday by another founding father of the nation, Sir Julius Chan (New Ireland Governor), who is now the only remaining MP who first entered the House of Assembly in 1968 with Sir Michael (Story on Page 2).
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Abau MP, Sir Puka Temu, also called on constitutional office holders like Electoral Commissioner, Registrar of Political Parties, Chief Ombudsman and Attorney General to come forward and tell the nation about what should happen next.
In the meantime, a senior government legal officer said two medical doctors should have been appointed to monitor the PM’s condition (Story Page 3).
Mr Abal played down the likelihood of a constitutional crisis and spoke of the political stability of the last 10 years and the Government’s achievements.
He said the stability was a record for the country from 2002 under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, now undergoing medical treatment in Singapore.
Mr Abal was speaking during his opening address delivered to chief executive officers of State-owned enterprises in their one-day consultancy review at the hotel. He paid tribute to Sir Michael following the announcement by his son and Minister for State Enterprises, Arthur Somare, on Tuesday of the family’s decision to retire him from office.
Mr Abal said following the announcement on Tuesday, numerous calls from people in all walks of life had poured in, adding “it is nice to know the feelings of our people towards our leader”.
He told the CEOs that the Government would remain until the next elections “although we’ve had temperatures rising and dropping on the floor of Parliament”.
He said there were already political rumblings following the Tuesday’s retirement announcement to that effect. However, he chose not to delve into the matter. He continued to cite stability over the 10 years, describing it as “the most successful in the history of this young nation”.
“With political stability came the fruits of broad-based economic development that has touched most corners of this land,” he said.
“He came to political power again at a time the nation was at its lowest ebb.
“He leaves at a time of unparalleled opportunities for the country’s youth with major job creation underway for the first time in our history and thousands of new training opportunities created for jobs of the future.
“Sir Michael’s retirement is the start of a new era.
“He led this country into independence 36 years ago, before most of the current generation were born.
“He proved himself as its greatest political leader by winning several general elections.
“I will forever be grateful that when Sir Michael knew that he would undergo major open heart surgery and he decided last December to anoint me as his chosen successor, a prospect I had never anticipated.
“Because of the confidence of the Grand Chief, I have humbly, and with enthusiasm, accepted his challenge.”
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