By ISAAC NICHOLAS

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has assured the nation that the government is in total control and using its rights under the Constitution to address issues before the Supreme Court, The National reports.
O’Neill also urged public servants to display professionalism, referring to claims that an aircraft had been chartered to bring in chiefs, soldiers and police officers from Wewak for the Supreme Court ruling today.
He said the application filed by lawyer Philip Ame to have Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia disqualified from presiding over a Supreme Court case was the government exercising its right under the law. The case relates to the East Sepik provincial executive reference challenging the legality of the government he formed on Aug 2.
“I appeal to the people of Papua New Guinea that there is a government in place and in total control,” he said.
“The government res­pects the country and it has the authority using provisions of the Constitution under law to address issues in relation to the case before the Supreme Court.”
O’Neill said there were issues of conflict of interest that the government must address within the provisions of the constitution.
“There is nothing unusual about addressing conflict. The government is not trying to frustrate justice over the delay in the decision,” he said.
“We want the decision to be handed down quickly and we are confident after we raise all the issues before the court in relation to bias.”
Meanwhile, O’Neill appealed to the people to remain calm alleging that a chartered aircraft had brought in chiefs, police and Defence Force personnel.
O’Neill said Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga had asked the police to report back to their work stations in East Sepik.