Islands Business - Bid to increase number of PNG MPs gets Parliament nod

PORT MORESBY, PNG ----- Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare passed his first hurdle when the first vote to increase Cabinet ministers to 31 was passed by an absolute majority in a subsequent second attempt.

On introduction of the Constitutional amendment, the Government under Sir Michael mustered only 71 votes with 11 against of the 73 required two-thirds majority.

Leader of Government Business Paul Tiensten then moved quickly to obtain leave of Parliament to rescind the vote, and finally got the required numbers at 74 votes with 12 against.

The amendment was compulsorily adjourned for two months.

On representation of the amendment Sir Michael said times had changed and the 28-member Cabinet originally set before independence was to service a population of only 2.5 million in Papua New Guinea.

He said the population had now increased to more than 5.6 million and so had the needs of the people. He said the country should now have 120 MPs taking into account women MPs that are going to be included.

Sir Michael said MPs were legislators and must take into account the future needs of the country as expounded under the PNG Vision 2050.

He said there should be progress in Parliament given that there were talented people available now, adding that new electorates were also going to be established.

Opposition Leader Sir Mekere Morauta strongly objected to the change, saying it was unnecessary and the Government should be looking at building more health and school facilities instead. Sir Mekere described Sir Michael’s amendment as the “flying fox approach and pulling the cart before the horse.”

Sir Mekere said each minister cost K3 million and an extra three would mean K15 million more. “This is a naked badly camouflaged motive to stay in power,” Sir Mekere said.