PANGU PATI mediation meeting

By Solomon Puana

Party faction and dispute has become a concern for some Political Parties in the country and
Pangu is one of those parties that is greatly affected by this experiences. On Wednesday 24th of
January this year, a mediation was held at the Office of the Registry of Political Parties, which was
directed to by the National Court to be mediated in the presence of the Registrar of the Registry
of Political Parties. The mediation was basically about the court proceeding between two disputing
parties within Pangu Party and at the same time to comply with the Directional Orders of the
National Court as issued by His Honour, Justice Ere Kariko on the 06th December, 2017 to mediate
on, or before the 24th January 2018.The parties find a way forward in the proceeding instituted
by the President and General Secretary of Pangu Party, asserting their appointments and election
as the duly appointed, and or elected Executives of the Party.
The Direction Orders issued by the Court were eleven (11) in total, however, both parties
agreed to narrow down the Directional Orders to three (3) main issues as proposed agendas, and
or issues for the purpose of the mediation, which were: Declaration of the First Plaintiff as the
National President of Pangu Party and Declaration of the Second Plaintiff as the General Secretary
of Pangu Party; Cost of the Proceedings; and Any other matters. These three (3) main issues and
or agendas were agreed to by both parties prior to and at the mediation.

The members present included the senior staff of the Registry, led by Mr John Bishop, who
chaired the meeting on behalf of the Registrar, who was away due to illness. Other staff present
in the mediation meeting were: Mr Emmanuel Pok, Mr Kennedy Pais and Mr Solomon Puana.
The disputing parties who were present in the meeting and or mediation were: for the Defendants;
the Pangu Party Parliamentary Leader, Honourable Mr Sam Basil; the Party Council Members
and Miss Julie Kaname (Suspended Female Vice-President), Mr Sinaka Rea (Council Member),
Mr Nelson Tuka (Council Member), and Mr Ronald Ababa from Henao Lawyers, representing
the Defendants, Honourable Mr Sam Basil and Mr Sinaka Rea. For the Plaintiffs’, it was
Mr Patrick Pundao (The National President) and Mr Morris Tovebae (The National General Secretary)in person.

The mediation came to an end with all members of the two disputing parties agreeing that the
First Plaintiff, Mr Patrick Pundao remains as the National President of Pangu Party and the Second
Plaintiff, Mr Morris Tovebae remains as the National General Secretary of Pangu Party. It
was also unanimously agreed by both parties that each party to proceeding in the National
Court take the responsibility in meeting their own cost of the proceeding and to submit a supplementary application to the National Court to discontinue the proceeding.

Finally, a request was made by Mr Sinaka Rea to have a full Party Council Members meeting to
endorse the Court finally determining the proceeding and concluding it, including putting to rest
any other matters and any other outstanding issues in order to get the party in order and for the
party to move forward. All present agreed to have the Party Council meeting to be held on the
19th February 2018. On that note, the Parliamentary Party Leader, Honourable Mr Sam Basil also
made the request to the Registrar to allow for the full council members meeting to be held at
the Office of the Registry of Political Parties.

On behalf on the Registrar and the Registry Office, Mr John Bishop and Mr Emmanuel Pok
agreed for the meeting to be held at the Registry of Political Parties Office on the 19th February
2018 as agreed by both parties.

Town hall meetings

By Dr Alphonse Gelu

This is a new concept that the Registry of Political Parties would like to roll out in 2018 and beyond. The concept is based on the idea of bringing politicians and party leaders especially to speak to the people in different locations in the country about themselves, their political party and the policies of their parties. The people will be given an opportunity to ask questions but more so see their Leaders in person. This concept is successfully done in countries like the United States however for us in Papua New Guinea this would be done to suit our own conditions.

The main objective of this concept is to bring our Leaders closer to the people, make our leaders more visible and in the process for our leaders to promote their political parties.

The Registry would be making invitations to Parliamentary Leaders of Political Parties and other Members of Parliament to join it to visit the different locations to take part in this initiative. The Registrar would be writing to each Parliamentary Leader of the 21 political parties in Parliament to take part in this activity. This will be done in early 2018.

Due to the government not funding activities for the Registry in 2018, the Registry is contemplating to roll this out in the Central Province and the National Capital District.