Speaker's Decision Sparks Controversy in Parliament

The parliament’s speaker Job Pomat’s decision on Wednesday has ignited a fierce debate among members, highlighting the complexities and challenges of parliamentary procedures. 

In a phone interview yesterday afternoon with Kalang News, Douglas Tomuriesa, the Member for Kiriwina-Goodenough, and the Opposition Leader expressed the oppositions concerns regarding the Speaker's ruling, which they argue undermines the decorum and impartiality expected of the chair.

Tomuriesa emphasized the importance of maintaining respect and dignity in the House, asserting that the Speaker must embody impartiality. "The decorum of the House depends on the chair, and the respect, the dignity of the chair must always be maintained. In this case, impartiality is very important," he stated.

He criticized the Speaker's approach, questioning the decision to seek court clarification after making a ruling. "It's like putting the cart before the horse. How can you make your ruling and later go to the courts for clarification? The Speaker himself has the final say in our rulings on the floor of parliament," Tomuriesa argued.

The Member for Kiriwina-Goodenough pointed out that the Speaker could have deferred his decision and sought legal advice beforehand. "On Wednesday it clearly shows that his clerk himself was confused with the standing orders and the organic law on the integrity of political parties and the governance of parliament. The Speaker should have suspended parliament for a few days or weeks to seek legal advice and come back with the right decision," he suggested.

The Opposition Leader team echoed Tomuriesa's sentiments, stressing the need for the Speaker to be strong and independent in his rulings. "The Speaker must be seen to be strong. When it comes to parliament business, our parliament business ends with the Speaker, and the Speaker must be strong in his rulings," he said.

He also highlighted the importance of the judiciary in maintaining the constitution, urging patience and respect for the judicial process. "We must respect the judiciary and make the right decisions that will benefit our nation. The judiciary is an independent body that must be strong to protect the nation," the Opposition Leader stated.

Tomuriesa expressed hope that the Speaker would seek the necessary court interpretation and recalled parliament to resolve the issue promptly. "I hope the Speaker will go to the courts and get the interpretation. He should have suspended parliament and allowed it to make a proper decision. Parliament should be recalled immediately to sort out this mess," Tomuriesa concluded.

The nation now awaits the court's clarification and the subsequent actions of the Speaker, with hopes that the legislative process will continue smoothly and uphold the integrity of parliamentary proceedings.