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MPs shift camps
MEMBERS of Parliament are making
last-minute moves to position themselves well for the general election
as the “window period” allowed by law for them to join new political
parties, draws to a close.
And yesterday, the ruling National Alliance Party suffered the loss of
another of its members, when Sandaun MP Carlos Yuni announced that he
was joining the People’s Labor Party (PLP).
Mr Yuni teams up with fellow governor and former NA man Bani Hoivo (Oro),
who defected to PLP last week.
The “window period”, during which the Organic Law on the Integrity of
Political Parties and Candidates allows MPs to leave or join parties of
their choice, ends next week.
While the NA has lost Mr Hoivo and Mr Yuni on one hand, it has gained on
the other with the signing of Paul Tiensten (from PPP), Mark Maipakai
(PPP), Mikki Kaeoko (PLP) and Timothy Tala (PPP).
Mr Hoivo and Mr Yuni are joined by Goilala MP Fabien Inne, who defected
from the People’s Action Party.
With the move to PLP, Governor Yuni also announced that Gabriel Pise,
who ran second to him in 2002, would run on the party ticket against
Forest Minister Patrick Pruaitch for the Aitape/Lumi seat.
Mr Yuni said NA was a good party but “a few people” were spoiling it.
He said the NA would not win any seats in Sandaun “because I did all
their dirty work without the party acknowledging me”.
Messers Yuni, Hoivo and Inne’s arrival at PLP offset the loss of Mr
Kaeoko (Wapenamanda) and Mr Balus Libe (Komo/Magarima), who has joined
the Pangu Pati.
Kirriwina/Goodenough MP Brian Pulayasi, who was thought to have left PAP
for Pangu, turned up at a PAP press conference yesterday. So did Karamui/Nomane
MP Posi Menai, who only last weekend told his own people in Karamui he
was joining NA.
Mr Menai was with Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye, who announced a K2
million road project for the people when welcoming Mr Menai to NA.
PAP leader Gabriel Kapris said his MPs were still intact.
Mr Kapris told reporters those MPs who came to PAP “through the window”
as independent members have decided to leave but “those that have walked
in through the door” have remained.
“They came to PAP to get things like ministries, experience, exposure
etc, in politics out of the party. All they seemed to be worried about
is what the party and the country can do for them and not what they can
do for the party and the country,” Mr Kapris said.
Meanwhile, the PNG Country Party appears to have resolved an
in-fighting, and yesterday announced that Chuave MP Jim Nomane has
joined the party.
Party leader Jamie Maxtone-Graham also announced that popular radio
personality Angra Kennedy would run on the party’s ticket for the Simbu
Regional seat.
Former ambassador Kietro Abisinito, who had a heated argument with Mr
Maxtone-Graham over the party leadership two weeks ago, was by his side
during a briefing with reporters.
 
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