Tentative judgment for PM election validity case set for July 6
BY ROMINAH FAKA
The High Court is set to make its judgement on the case by Opposition leader Matthew Wale challenging the validity of the prime minister’s election on July 6.
The Member of Parliament for Aoke-Langalanga who has been reappointed as the Leader of Opposition after his unsuccessful bid for the prime minister’s position.
Mr Wale is seeking various legal declarations concerning the prime ministerial election.
The primary declaration is an order declaring that the timeframe specified by the Governor General for the delivery of the nomination for the Prime Ministerial Election, was from Monday April 29 at 10am to Tuesday 30 April at 4pm as outlined in the Election Notice issued by the Governor General on April 29 did not comply with the mandatory four-day period prescribed under Schedule 2, paragraph 1 (b) of the Constitution Law of Solomon Island.
In Schedule 2, paragraph 1 (b) of the Constitution mentioned the place, date and time for the delivery of nomination papers to the Governor-General, must not be later than four days before the scheduled election meeting.
In court yesterday the private lawyer Gabrial Suri who represent the claimant Wale argues the inadequacy of the timeline, citing the constitutional requirement of a four-day period prior to the election date.
The hearing was heard before Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer where Suri made his oral submissions in highlighting the claimant claim of the timeframe specified in the delivering of the nomination for the Prime Ministerial Elections which should be within the four days mandatory period prescribed under the schedule 2, paragraph 1(b) of the Constitution law.
However, in respond to the claim, Primo Afeau Legal Service who appeared for Governor General provide to the court his written submissions and orally respond to the claimant claim, saying that Governor General Sir David Vunagi did not make any error during the election of Prime Ministerial Election as claimed by Wale.
Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer also received oral and written submissions from the Attorney General Chambers in relations to interpretations of the schedules.
Court sought a tentative date for judgement to be delivered on July 6, 11 am.
