61 candidates to contest in honour of leader

THE United Labour Party’s 61 candidates will go ahead to contest in the general election in honour of their party leader and the late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil.
Party election coordinator Reuben Giusu said Basil’s death had left them in shock, but they would still go into the election with their orange pride.
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet, we still think he’s going to walk in or call at any minute.
“Sam was larger than life, he was passionate about many things, but most of all he was passionate about rural development,” Giusu said.
“He built this party and this is the first time we were supposed to contest and it’s just so hard to accept that he left us on the eve of the election.
“His party, his staff, everyone are just lost, nevertheless the party has agreed to go into this year’s election in honour of him, to carry on fighting for his dream and the things he was passionate about.”
Party leader Lekwa Gure said that Basil always spoke about the party, saying that the party would be an inspiration to many and an institute.
“But it wasn’t until his death last Wednesday that we realised he was the inspiration, he was the institute,” Gure said.
He said that the death left them with many unanswered questions.
“We keep asking, why so soon?
“Why him, why now on the eve of the general elections, but we have agreed as a party that we will keep the orange flame burning in his honour.
“To his family and his people of Morobe, we send our sincere condolences.”