Business as usual after first sitting in Parliament

 LEADER of Government Business and Finance Minister James Marape has described the first week of Parliament sitting as “business as usual”.

Marape, pictured, said the Government, under Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was secure with 99 per cent of members showing their support last week.

He said Northern Governor Gary Juffa was moved from the Government backbench to the Opposition after “consultation with the Government caucus and partners”.

“We cannot suppress his right to speak against the Government,” he said.

“It is important for his own good that he sits clearly away from us to make key contributions to the development of the country.

“We asked him to move and he took it calmly,” Marape said. 

“I commend him for his wisdom and courage.”

He said the Government must manage its numbers properly to ensure no one fell out of line.

“We manage numbers. We know exactly who is doing what, and what they are up to, and what time they go to sleep,” he said. 

He said 99 per cent of MPs were in the Government and supported Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

Parliament began last week.