Maipakai confirms post with THE Party

By JEFFREY ELAPA
MEMBER for Kikori and Inter-Government Relations Minister Mark Maipaikai has announced that he is part of the team led by Don Polye and is the deputy party leader of the new Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party.
He brushed aside reports in the media that he was part of an independent team led by Speaker Jeffery Nape.
Maipaikai said he still remained with the Papua bloc that broke ranks with the old regime with 24 others members to support Polye form a coalition government now led by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his deputy Belden Namah.
Other MPs said they had supported Polye because of his leadership, charisma, vision and potential to lead the country as prime minister after this year’s general election.
More than 500 people from throughout the country attended yesterday’s launching of the party.
Among current MPs who had signed up with THE Party were David Arore, Mathew Poia, Pitom Bombom, Maipaikai, Andrew Mald and Sali Subam from the Papuan region; Miki Kaeok,Philip Kikala, Sai Beseo, Benjamin Mul, Yawa Silupa, Lukas Dekana and Tom Olga (highlands); Momase’s Buka Malai and James Gau; Michael Sapau, Leo Dion and Peter Humphreys from NGI.