Kaupa leaves party, remains in govt

MORESBY North-East MP John Kaupa says he has quit the People’s Party but will remain in Government and move to the middle benches as an independent.
He had recently expressed his intention to join the ruling Pangu Pati during a mothers’ small-medium enterprises gathering.
People’s Party is still a coalition partner in the Government.
Kaupa said he ran a major metropolitan district with people from all over PNG living in the area and the party that he was part of had not done enough to support his policies to deliver services to them.
“My electorate consists of the 800 tribes of Papua New Guinea with the majority living in settlements,” he said. “All the people from every district in PNG are living here.
“The influx of people migrating to the city has put enormous pressure for us leaders in the city to deliver basic services.
“Therefore, I have decided to move to the middle benches for political convenience to deliver better service to our people and give my political support to Prime Minister James Marape.”