Polye ‘not fit to be PM’

By SHEILA LASIBORI

DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Don Polye declared yesterday he may not be fit for the job, but if Sir Michael Somare were to step down and make way for him as prime minister, he would give it a try.
“I am not fit to be the next prime minister yet. But if that is what people want, then I cannot hide,” he told reporters yesterday.
Sir Michael, who is seeking a final term in Parliament before retirement, has not publicly named his successor.
Lae MP Bart Philemon was previously seen as a likely successor, but a challenge to the leadership of National Alliance last year led to his ouster from Government and the party. Mr Polye is one of four deputy leaders in NA.
He told reporters he was inexperienced as he was a first timer in politics and he preferred to be judged by the people for the work he had done instead of merely putting up his hand for the PM’s post, as was the case with other leaders, who were openly campaigning for the job.
Mr Polye said good leaders must have the wisdom and integrity to lead the people and not only be concerned about becoming prime minister.
He said choosing leaders was like choosing a captain in a rugby team, where no player would put up his hand to be chosen as the captain but it would be the members of the team who would chose the captain and the qualities of this captain would be shown when the team was on the field.
“If it is the will of my colleagues, then I would (take up PM’s post) with the wisdom from God and support from the very senior colleagues,” Mr Polye said when asked if he was prepared to lead the country in the event that Sir Michael stepped down.

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