Major parties sign pact with PNC

By JEFFREY ELAPA
MORE than 10 political parties have signed up to work with PNC leader Peter O’Neill and support him to head the government.
The parties that signed the Alotau Accord were Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party, United Resources Party, People’s Progress Party, Social Democratic Party, National Alliance, People’s United Assembly, Our Rural Development Party, Star Alliance, United, National Party, New Generation, PDM, People’s Party, PNG Country Party, Indigenous People’s Party and other smaller parties.
About 80 members from the Alotau camp arrived in Port Moresby yesterday in two chartered planes to prepare for the election of the speaker before electing a new prime minister today.
Parliament will be chaired by Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.
As of yesterday, O’Neill’s PNC Party had 27 confirmed members while other independent members had joined to take the numbers to more than 30.
Don Polye’s T.H.E Party had 11 confirmed with two independents. William Duma’s United Resources Party seven,  National Alliance six, People’s United Assembly three, Sir Julius Chan’s People’s Progress Party six, Social Democratic Party two, PDM two, New Generation had two, Country Party two and once each from Sir Puka Temu’s ODP, United Party, National, Star Alliance and Indigenous People’s party.