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Political marriage hopes to give birth to new government
By FRANK RAI
THE team to take on the National Alliance party is taking shape.
Last weekend in Lae, leader of PNG Party Sir Mekere Morauta and Bart
Philemon of the New Generation party announced they had teamed up to
provide an alternative to the National Alliance-led coalition
Government.
“Today marks a new day in PNG politics. Today we present to you and to
the people of Papua New Guinea “the alternative” to the (Sir Michael)
Somare-led National Alliance Government,” Sir Mekere told the New
Generation Party convention in Lae last Saturday.
This was not unexpected, as they were widely referred to as a team of
like-minded people, including Pangu Pati leader Sir Rabbie Namaliu.
Sir Mekere and Mr Philemon signed an MoU to work together to form the
next government.
“My party, PNG Party and New Generation party today publicly declare our
commitment to work together to provide that alternative,” Sir Mekere
announced.
He said the PNG party and New Generation party have one overriding aim
in common — to form a good government in July this year.
“We have a common enemy — a Government without direction, lurching from
crisis to crisis, breaking laws, wasting public resources and controlled
by a clique of people whose interest is to increase personal wealth and
power.
“Without question, corruption is now more widespread, more systemic,
more systematic than five years ago. It is now firmly entrenched in the
private sector, as well as the public sector.”
Sir Mekere said a PNGP and NGP government would recognise that the
present generation had an obligation to make sure that the House of
Papua New Guinea is left in good order for the next generation
“Let’s put aside politics for a moment to focus on two issues that are
keys to improving the welfare of people.”
He said the two issues were the cost of government and the structure of
government.
“The last four years were years of wasted opportunity. I gave Somare
political stability through the Organic Law on the Integrity of
Political Parties and Candidates and by crossing the floor in May 2004
to prevent a vote of no-confidence, not because I thought the Prime
Minister was doing a good job, but because I judged the likely outcome
to be worse. I am not so sure now whether that judgment was correct.”
Mr Philemon said NGP was in an infant stage and it was taking up the
challenge to form a coalition with PNG party for ‘the alternate’
government after the coming election.
Asked if the strong remarks by Sir Mekere would result in ministers from
his party being dumped, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office
said Sir Michael would not be too concerned about the comments or the
PNGP and NGP marriage.
PNG party members holding cabinet positions are Mathew Siune (Labour and
Industrial Relations) and David Basua (Higher Education).
 
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