‘Differences with O’Neill work-related not personal’

The National National

By JEFFREY ELAPA
TARI-Pori MP James Marape says his differences with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill are not “personal” but on “work and policy-related matters”.
“The prime minister is running his government and his cabinet and its better off running the country his way,” he said.
“Some of us have being around and offer policy advices on how we feel the issues of the country need to be addressed.
“But he disregards many of our advices.
“So I feel that some of us make way so he can find others who are compatible to his way of thinking to be in such an important post to run the affairs of the country.
“While we don’t have any personal differences, we do differ on some work and policy-related matters.”
He lists those policies such as:

  • Getting more local content participation in our gas, oil or mining industry;
  • the empowerment of local businesses;
  • resource laws reconfiguration for wealth generation for our country; and,
  • The lack of honouring existing resource projects agreements such as the 4.27 per cent of

Kroton shares for five provincial governments and their landowners.
He also said he would not take up any new portfolio if offered by O’Neill.