Shadow Cabinet to monitor govt

Parties in the Opposition has announced a shadow Cabinet that will serve the interest of the people and nation by keeping the Government in check, honest and accountable, Opposition leader Patrick Pruaitch says.
He said the shadow Cabinet will not be unnecessarily obstructive but will support the government to ensure that leadership conduct, proposed laws and policies have the eight million people of this nation firmly at the centre. “I wish to remind the government that political leadership in our country is not an end in itself but a means to an end. As far as parties and leaders in the Opposition are concerned, the end is the welfare, prosperity and the common good of every citizen – every girl, every woman, every boy and every man – of this nation.
“The end is not self-interest or self-preservation. Our shadow ministerial team will not entertain self-serving leadership, laws and policies by the current PNC-led coalition government under the prime ministership of Peter O’Neill. We have elected to serve rather than be self-serving.” Pruaitch said.
“We in the Opposition have the numerical strength, depth of experience and quality of leadership to engage in quality and robust debate on the floor of Parliament in keeping the government in check all the time. We are duty-bound to do this, acting on the leadership mandate that our people recently gave us during the election process.
“Accordingly, our first task as a cohesive team is to offer ourselves to be the alternative credible government for the service of our people. We undertake to do all things  to maintain solidarity, unity and stability in our Alliance team as espoused in our accord.
Pruaitch said the National Alliance Party and Pangu Pati, having the largest number of leaders to lead the alternative government, were dedicated to consolidating their numbers while ensuring that they remain intact.
“NA as an offshoot of Pangu will work with Pangu to provide likeminded leadership with high levels of integrity, including greater cooperation and collaboration with PNG Party, THE Party, PNG National Party, Melanesian Alliance Party, Melanesian Liberal Party, Coalition for Reform Party, Peoples Movement for Change and independent members of parliament.”
Pruaitch complimented Sam Basil for being a significant political strategist as demonstrated in his time in the Opposition leadership in the last Parliament.