BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The majority opposition coalition yesterday criticised the Prime Minister’s decision to leave the country in the midst of the ongoing court case and a court order.
The coalition in a statement yesterday said PM Jeremiah Manele had ‘ignored the court decision to convene parliament’ which is a ‘blatant disregard for a lawful court directive’.
The Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat has said PM Manele’s trip overseas does not breach the court order.
“The Attorney General has officially filed a Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeal regarding the recent High Court judgment. In conjunction with this, an Application for a Stay of Execution has also been filed and recently granted by the Court of Appeal.
“Now that the case is before the court of appeal, and the ‘stay of execution’ granted, we will now await the Court of Appeal outcome. No comments with regards to opposition’s accusation. The PM will return tomorrow,” Press Secretary Georgina Kekea said.
It is worth noting that PM Manele left on Wednesday. The file for appeal and stay was done the same day. The court of appeal hearing for the stay application was done yesterday [Thursday] at 3pm. The application was granted.
Meanwhile, the opposition coalition statement said:
“The three days will lapse tomorrow [today, Friday, April 17] and it is irresponsible of the Prime Minister to ignore the court orders.
“The Prime Minister has departed the country in clear defiance of a court order requiring Parliament to be convened within three days. This raises profound constitutional questions regarding compliance with binding judicial directions and the obligations of the executive under our democratic system.
“It is an international embarrassment that a Prime Minister that has already judicially determined to be unlawfully occupying office while leading a minority government, continues to act in a manner that demonstrates disregard for constitutional accountability, institutional integrity, and public trust.
“Such actions reflect a serious erosion of leadership responsibility and are incompatible with the standards expected of lawful constitutional governance,” the coalition said.
Prime Minister Manele had left for Fiji for the Troika meeting in Suva. The Solomon Islands Prime Minister is the current chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, and head of Troika.
“He left for Fiji yesterday for a one-day meeting in his capacity as the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to chair an urgent Troika meeting. He is due to return to the country tomorrow, Friday,” PM Press Secretary Kekea told Island Sun yesterday.
On Tuesday this week the Chief Justice ruled in favour of the Opposition coalition, upholding their judicial review claim of the current political impasse created when PM Manele refused to call parliament for the matured motion of no-confidence against him to be debated.
Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer in court gave two options for the prime minister – either resign or call parliament within three days starting that day and lapsing today [Friday, April 17].
The judgement also recognised the Governor General’s residual power to call parliament in the event that the prime minister failed to abide by court order and call parliament within the three days.
The Attorney General, acting for the prime minister, filed an appeal the next day [Wednesday, April 15] and application for a stay of execution on the court order for PM Manele to call parliament within three days.
Yesterday [Thursday, April 16] the court of appeal granted stay on the court order made by the High Court on Tuesday. [See separate story]
The opposition coalition is with 28 MPs and PM Manele is ruling with a minority government of 22 MPs.
The political impasse is in its fifth week.
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