Election of new PM chance to end tribal fights, official says

THE people of Hela will now use the election of James Marape as a catalyst to surrender weapons and stop tribal fights, local leader Thomas Potape says.
Potape, who is Hela deputy governor and Komo local level government council president, made the remarks while congratulating Marape on his election as prime minister.
He said the election of Marape had given the Hela people pause to reconcile and resolve the province’s internal issues and differences.
“The election of one of Hela’s son is the highest call and we must embrace it,” Potape said.
“This is a fulfilment of the Hela prophecies and no mistake, he is the owner of the oil and gas in Gobe, Kutubu, Moran, Angore, Hides, Juha and Muruk, Porgera and Mt Kare.
“As the prophecies said, the son of Hela would one day rise and cut the pig and share among everyone; this is the reality when one Hela son will use the benefits from the oil and gas and share it with the country.
“It was fitting that 101 Members of Parliament on both sides of the house put aside their differences and voted for Marape as one of the biggest changes ever seen in PNG politics.
“Hela is now providing leadership among the 8.5 million people of this great nation and it is high time the people changed.
“We will now take the lead and surrender our guns and weapons, forgive each other and resolve our issues,” he said.
Potape said Marape’s election would have greater impact on this nation and he hoped the landowner issues in Hela, Western, Gulf, Central and Southern Highlands would be addressed.
He was hopeful the country’s economy would start to improve if it was God’s intervention to save the nation after hearing the cries of the people for a change of government and leadership.
“This is God’s doing and we, the Hela people, are ready to make a change and it will start with us, the provincial and national leaders.
“A true servant of God will run this great nation and we thank the 101 MPs and the people for handing over the baton to Marape.”
Potape paid tribute to former Morobe governor Luther Wenge for his part in the creation of Hela province and Enga Governor Grand Chief Sir Peter Ipatas as well as Southern Highland leaders and others for giving the mandate to Marape.
He said Marape’s election was at the right time when PNG was nearing its 50th year of independence and a son of Hela, through Pangu Party, would give the country economic independence.
Potape said, as a landowner of Hides PDL 1 and 7, Marape was in the best position to appreciate and understand their issues in order to make decisions that would benefit them and the country.