United Resource Party, PPP candidates join Kokopo camp

By LUKE KAMA
TWO MPs elected under the banners of the United Resource Party (URP) and People’s Progress Party (PPP) in Western have declined to join their party leaders at the Alotau camp.
They instead flew to Kokopo yesterday to join The Alliance camp.
Leader of the PNG Party and Vanimo Green MP Belden Namah was cheered by  Western people when he arrived on a chartered plane to pick up Western governor-elect Taboi Awi Yoto (URP) and member-elect for North Fly James Donald who contested under PNC.
Namah said the people of Western had watched a chartered aircraft arrive at the Kiunga airport yesterday morning to take the two elected MPs to the Alotau camp.
“The people disagreed outright for their members-elect to jump on the plane with officials of URP and PNC,” Namah said.
“Instead they demanded that both wait for the next charter by Team Alliance.
“As soon as I landed, the people roared in jubilation in front of the security forces who were also there.”
Namah said Western people had brought in their members-elect and presented them to Team Alliance in the presence of PNC and URP officials, security forces and election officials.
“The PNC chartered plane had to leave without the two leaders,” Namah said. “It is indeed a victory for Western people who voiced their frustrations at a government they believe had taken away what is rightfully theirs.”
Western governor-elect Taboi Awi Yoto acknowledged the presence of URP and PNC officials and apologised for any embarrassment caused.