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OPPOSITION LEADER MUST NOT MISINFORM PARLIAMENT: PM
[FOR RELEASE –12 March 2009]Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare today called on the Leader of the Opposition not to misinform the Parliament.
“I wish to correct some misinformation that is coming from the Opposition leader.”
“It is Sir Mekere's right to oppose AFFIRMATIVE ACTION on the appointment of women to Parliament, but he has no right to misinform this House,” Sir Michael said.
He said that in line with the Constitutional Planning Committee Report of 1974, “we allowed for marginalised groups to be appointed to Parliament under Section 101 and 102 of our National Constitution.”
“It has been 35 years since then and very few women have been successful at the polls,” he said.
Sir Michael said it was wrong for the Opposition leader to allege there was something sinister about the timing of this motion now before Parliament.
“I would like to inform this House that there is nothing sinister about the timing of the candidates being presented to Parliament.”
“The public knows that Dame Carol has championed working with youth, women and sports for the last seven years.”
“It has been a great burden for one person to take on so many social issues.
“In order to prepare the way for the reserved seats to come in to effect in 2012, she needs the support of others,” Sir Michael said.
He said there were two reasons for the government to support the use of section 101 and 102 by women of this country.
“We have a population of over six million people. Over three million of these people do not have a voice in this Parliament.”
“I commend the people of Port Moresby South who have continued to elect Dame Carol to Parliament for three consecutive terms.”
“While she has been their Member, she has also carried the burden of women's issues all this time,” he said.
Sir Michael said the Opposition was carrying on as if it is very easy to enact legislation on reserved seats.
“While Dame Carol has done a lot behind the scenes on this, there is still much to be done.”
“Invoking Section 101 and 102 will allow this process of reserved seats to be properly addressed by these three appointed Members of Parliament should the vote succeed,” he said.
M T SOMARE
Prime Minister
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