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Warangoi deal signed
By ISAAC NICHOLAS
in Kokopo
PRIME Minister Sir Michael
Somare and his National Alliance Party signed an agreement yesterday
stitching together 13 political parties that will provide a possible 80
MPs to form government next Monday.
The agreement is called the “Warangoi Collective Agreement”, named after
the Warangoi area of East New Britain where the deal was sealed for Sir
Michael to lead for another five years.
He was emotional and seemed unfazed by events in Port Moresby, with the
Hideaway camp filing court papers to challenge his eligibility to be a
candidate for prime minister.
After the signing, Sir Michael was in tears and had to regain his
composure before describing his team as “the best trained Papua New
Guinean brains” supporting him to be prime minister again.
“With the best brains, we will set a new direction for this nation. It
is unity in diversity,” he said.
The People’s Party led by Enga governor Peter Ipatas and John Pundari’s
National Advance Party were left out. Also left out was the PNG Country
Party, although its leader Jamie Maxtone-Graham claims the party has
merged with Pangu Pati.
It is understood the Enga faction of the NA led by Deputy Prime Minister
Don Polye objected to them being in government. Mr Ipatas and Mr Pundari
hold the only two seats NA did not win of the six in Enga province.
“I am proud of the fact that we can sort out our differences and I am
very humbled by your overwhelming support,” Sir Michael told the
leaders.
He said the Warongoi Collective Agreement was not legally binding but
was built on trust.
Those who signed also handed party resolutions backing Sir Michael for
the top job.
Under the Organic Law on Political Parties and Candidates, MPs must vote
for the prime minister in accordance with their party resolutions.
The group of 13are the NA, People’s Action Party, United Resource Party,
United Party, Pangu, National Party, Melanesian Alliance, People’s First
Party, People’s Democratic Movement, People’s National Congress, PNG
Labour Party, Rural Development Party and Melanesian Liberal Party.
PDM leader Michael Ogio challenged the NA leadership to have integrity
and trust when signing the MoA.
Mr Ogio said the last Kokopo Accord was not held together by the parties
and urged all new MPs and parties to honour their commitment.
Meanwhile, NA general-secretary Stephen Pokawin said they would be
referring Sir Mekere Morauta, Bart Philemon and Sir Julius Chan to the
Registrar of Political Parties and Candidates for breaching section 74
of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates.
Mr Pokawin said the court case launched in Port Moresby had no substance
and was more a personalised politics thing with Mr Philemon, Sir Julius
and Sir Mekere against Sir Michael.
He said the NA Party was guided by its conventions and the NA Council,
and it was this council that agreed to allow Sir Michael to lead the
party into the elections and to form government after the party
convention last year.
It was at this convention Mr Philemon attempted to wrestle leadership
from Sir Michael but failed, and he left to launch the New Generation
Party.
 
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