Kerema MP rejoins Opposition

By JEFFREY ELAPA
OPPOSITION Leader Patrick Pruaitch has welcomed back to the Opposition Kerema MP Richard Mendani.
Mendani, pictured, who was elected under the National Alliance Party banner in last year’s general election, moved across to join the Government when Parliament sat.
The Opposition now has 23 MPs in the 111-seat House.
It had 44 after the general election but half crossed the floor to join the Government.
Pruaitch said the Opposition needed to consolidate their numbers as they gear up to move a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in February.
He called on other government backbenchers to cross the floor now “to save the country”.
Meanwhile, Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta says Mendani has been expelled from the provincial executive council and the provincial assembly effective from November 4.
He said the decision was reached during an assembly special meeting in Kerema.
Haiveta said it was because Mendani had missed three consecutive assembly meetings and several council meetings.
“He was also invited to be the chairman of the Gulf Economic Development Authority but he refused,” Haiveta said.
“The Member for Kerema has not attended any meetings since the first provincial assembly on Aug 30, 2017.
“He has absconded all meetings for reasons only known to him.”