NSO staff told to focus on 2020 Census prep
Minister in charge of National Statistical Office (NSO) Honourable Samuel H Basil MP has called on all NSO staff to focus on their jobs to deliver a successful 2020 National Census.
Mr Basil made the call yesterday after being briefed that the ex parte order of the district made on 22nd September 2019 has been “set aside and the entire proceedings is dismissed as the complainants are also not coming to Court with clean hands”.
NSO premises has been subject of tussles between complainants Bernard Kiele, Eric Adam and Lesley Wongo who had secured a district court order ex parte on September 22 barring acting National Statistician Mr John Asevu Igitoi from entry into the office premises in pending a purported challenge of the legitimacy of his appointment.
Mr Igitoi, through his lawyer, Mr Martin Kombri of Kombri Lawyers, had challenged the legitimacy of the court order which was heard last week by the district court presided by Magistrate Garry Unjo.
The district, noting the affidavits provided by the defendant, and issued orders, dated October 4th as follows:
- The ex parte Order of this Court made on the 22nd September 2019 is set aside and the entire proceedings is dismissed as the complainants are not coming to Court with clean hands.
- The both parties including their agents, servants, associates whosoever, including the members of the Royal Constabulary of Papua New Guinea are restrained from harassing, intimidating, threatening in any manner whether verbal, physical or through the usage if mobile phone or phone against each other in office or abroad.
- The both parties are restrained from harassing, intimidating and threatening the staff/employees of the National Statistical Office.
- The employees/officers in the employment of the National Statistical Office Port Moresby are to resume work immediately.
- The parties are empowered to arrest and charge any party their agent, servants, or whosoever that breaches the above orders or to be brought before the competent jurisdiction to be dealth with according to law
Minister Basil, after the briefing, said that the district court order issued (dated 4th October) is quite clear.
“We are late by nearly four months on our preparatory delivery schedule and I expect everyone to focus on your jobs to catch up,” said the Minister.
We will address this matter once and for all in the next few days now that we have a clear district court order. But be warned that any attempt to disrupt the work of NSO amounts to contempt of the district court
Minister Basil
- NSO staff told to focus on 2020 Census prep - October 8, 2019
