MARAPE SET ON DESTROYING THE POLITICAL PARTY SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. SUPREME COURT REFERENCE WILL NOT BE WITHDRAWN | Press Release by Belden Nama.

MARAPE SET ON DESTROYING THE POLITICAL PARTY SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. SUPREME COURT REFERENCE WILL NOT BE WITHDRAWN

PRESS RELEASE | Office of the Member for Vanimo – Green River Open.
Tuesday 10 September, 2019.

The decision by the now former Leader of the Opposition, Patrick Pruaitch, to move from Opposition Leader to government is a sad day for democracy in PNG and is against the organic law on the integrity of political parties and candidates that we have in our country.

The one thing that has become very clear is that the policies of the Marape government are no different to the O’Neill government. There has been no new policy announcements, there has been no real reforms initiated and we are seeing jobs for Marape’s friends and family beginning with the Defence Secretary.

For several years now I have stood with Patrick Pruaitch and analysed and condemned the wrong policies of James Marape as Finance Minister and now a Prime Minister. The governance of our country is about belief in what is right for our people.

Members of Parliament in the Opposition like myself will now elect a new Opposition Leader and take the government and the Prime Minister to account for its actions. First and foremost the Supreme Court Reference on the validity of the current Prime Minister’s election will proceed.

This Supreme Court Reference is not in the name of Patrick Pruaitch, but it is in the name of the position of Opposition Leader. So while the Prime Minister might think he has bought the silence of the Opposition we will continue to protect the democratic processes and the rule of law in Papua New Guinea.

The Opposition will see this court application through on behalf of the men, women and children of Papua New Guinea. Democracy in PNG cannot be bought by the government of the day and I have demonstrated that time and time again.

With everything we have seen from this disorganized and self-interested government, the Opposition stands firm to fulfill our mandate to take them to task. Importantly, we will fight corruption at the highest levels, particularly in the graft and corruption we know is going on with contract in Hela Province.

(Signed)

Hon BELDEN NORMAN NAMAH, MP
Member for Vanimo Green River