C ommo nwe a l t h memb e r c o u n t r i e s The general election of June 2002 was chaotic and violent, resulting in the loss of at least 25 lives, and had to be extended for four weeks beyond the scheduled two-week voting period. Even then six Southern Highlands constituencies could not be declared because of missing ballot boxes. The National Alliance party (NA) won 19 of the declared seats, the People’s Democratic Movement 12, the People’s Progress Party eight and Pangu Pati six, giving the National Alliance a parliamentary majority, and Sir Michael Somare once again became Prime Minister. Following the parliamentary elections held in June–July 2007, in which the NA won 27 seats and independents 21, Somare secured the agreement of a further 59 MPs to join his coalition and, in mid- August, was duly re-elected Prime Minister by parliament. In December 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane’s re-election in June 2010 had been unconstitutional. At parliament’s next session in January 2011 Michael Ogio was elected Governor-General, defeating the opposition candidate, Sir Pato Kakaraya, by 65 votes to 23. In the same month Sir Michael Somare stepped aside in order to face a Leadership Tribunal hearing on allegations of financial mismanagement; his deputy, Samuel Abal, became acting Prime Minister. Following a two-week suspension from office by the tribunal in April 2011, Somare began a long period of medical treatment in Singapore. In August 2011 a parliamentary vote declared the office of Prime Minister vacant, and the People’s National Congress Party (PNCP) leader, Peter O’Neill, was elected Prime Minister, receiving 70 of the 94 votes cast, with support from both government and opposition members. Several parties filed a challenge against parliament’s actions in the Supreme Court that month and were joined by Somare following his return to Papua New Guinea in September. O’Neill won another parliamentary vote of confidence in December 2011, after the Supreme Court had ruled that Somare be reinstated, and parliament then passed retrospective legislation to legitimise O’Neill’s position. In January 2012 there was a further move to enforce the Supreme Court ruling by some members of the Defence Force loyal to Somare, but this was quickly halted by the majority of the Force. In May 2012 the Supreme Court made a further unsuccessful attempt to reinstate Somare. Parliamentary elections were held from 23 June to early August 2012, in the presence of a Commonwealth observer group. O’Neill’s PNCP won 27 of the 111 seats, with independents securing 16, the second largest bloc. The rest of the seats were shared among some 20 other parties, including the Triumph Heritage Empowerment party (12 seats) and the NA (seven). Some 60 per cent of members of the previous parliament were not returned to office. Turnout was 77 per cent. When the new parliament assembled on 3 August 2012 O’Neill was re-elected as Prime Minister, with the support of 93 members, including Sir Michael Somare, whose NA had joined the coalition led by O’Neill, ending the political stalemate. Local government Ministry: Provincial and Local Government Affairs There are three spheres of government in Papua New Guinea: national, provincial and local, as provided for by the constitution. Local government is provided for by the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-Level Governments 1995, and the Local- Level Governments Administration Act 1997. The Minister of Provincial and Local Government Affairs is responsible for local government, which comprises 325 local-level governments in 89 districts. Local elections are held every five years. The provincial governments can levy taxes and are responsible for local education, industry and business development. The local-level governments also have revenue-raising powers, and collect local taxes and fees, receiving transfers from the national government to cover salaries and development projects. They are responsible for water supply and, jointly with provincial governments, for health, environmental protection, waste disposal, roads and economic promotion. National development plan The Papua New Guinea Vision 2050 sets out a vision for the longterm development of the country. It has seven strategic focus areas or ‘pillars’: • Human capital development and people’s empowerment • Wealth creation • Institutional development and public service delivery • Security and international relations • Environmental sustainability and climate change • Spiritual, cultural and community development • Strategic planning, integration and control It aims to achieve the following outcomes: • That all people identify with Vision 2050 • Strong political leadership • Better governance • Improved public service delivery • Maintenance of law and order in all parts of the country • Strong and sustained economic growth Further information Prime Minister’s Office: www.pm.gov.pg Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Commonwealth Governance: www.commonwealthgovernance.org Governance institutions Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 228 Auditor-General’s Office: www.ago.gov.pg Bank of Papua New Guinea: www.bankpng.gov.pg Department of Finance: www.finance.gov.pg Department of National Planning and Monitoring: www.planning.gov.pg Judiciary: www.pngjudiciary.gov.pg National Information and Communications Technology Authority: www.nicta.gov.pg National Parliament of Papua New Guinea: www.parliament.gov.pg Port Moresby Stock Exchange: www.pomsox.com.pg
CEP template 2012
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