Basil happy to serve govt

By HELEN TARAWA
BULOLO MP Sam Basil has welcomed his reappointment as deputy prime minister and is happy to again serve under Prime Minister James Marape.
“I thank the prime minister for accepting us back and for giving me (back) the deputy prime minister post and a ministerial post,” he said.
“We are happy to serve under him and the Government as a coalition until 2022.” Basil, the United Labour Party leader, was among the MPs including nine ministers who defected to the opposition on Nov 13.
He returned last week.
Basil told The National that in Parliament, MPs were mandated to support, negotiate and be accepted.
“This is all political.
“And what we have demonstrated is part of our democratic system and what’s in the constitution.
“We are simply doing our job.”
Marape said Basil had been “missing in action” for weeks but had returned.
“These sorts of things happen.
“Every party leader when the opportunity (to become) PM presents itself, has the right to make a bid for it,” he said.
“It didn’t happen (this time) and the next best available option is deputy and it’s still vacant.”
Marape thanked the 52 MPs who stuck by his side including Walter Schnaubelt (Namatanai MP), Ian Ling-Stuckey (Kavieng MP), William Duma (Hagen MP), Allan Bird (East Sepik Governor), Gary Juffa (Northern Governor) and for welcoming Basil back.
“I’m a true Melanesian type leader.
“I consult and talk and the decision was arrived based on consensus.
“Basil is a senior respected leader and we told him his job was still vacant,” Marape said.