Minister explains statement made in special parliament sitting

IMMIGRATION and Border Security Minister Westly Nukundj says that Opposition Leader Belden Namah should not be playing politics during this crucial time.
In a statement yesterday, Nukundj said: “In fact, the Opposition leader has totally misunderstood my point of order during the special parliament sitting last Thursday.
“The point I raised was not about him being present at Bewani during the Land Border Post Commissioning.
“He (Namah) has totally misinterpreted my point.”
Namah had alleged that Nukundj was lying in Parliament last Thursday.
In a brief statement that went around on social media, Namah said: “Minister for Immigration (Nukundj) was telling lies in Parliament when he said I was not in Bewani to receive him to open the Bewani Land Border Project when in actual fact, my Governor (Tony Wouwou) and I personally led the convoy from Vanimo to Bewani and to my village where we had lunch. I even killed for him a huge cassowary as a sign of respect.”
But Nukundj said “I implied in my point of order that the Opposition leader was never on the border himself. I did confirm this information while on the ground at Bewani and then at Green River myself while opening the new border posts respectively at different times.”
“But in politics, Belden Namah should take this as constructive. The issue is on border is not personal. Border is a legacy issue,” Nukundj said.
“I didn’t say he was not there on the opening of Bewani post,” Nukundj said.
“The Opposition leader has seen fit to belittle me and the Government, labelling me a liar in a statement that has gone viral on social media.
“Papua New Guineans are good at criticising leaders and this is no time for Belden Namah or any Papua New Guinean to criticise the Government.”