NA welcomes Polye to the fold

THE Highlands faction of the National Alliance party was on hand to welcome re-elected Kandep MP Don Polye when he flew into Port Moresby yesterday.
And Mr Polye declared that his re-election was a “signal” that the National Alliance-led (NA) Government must remain in power.
“The result of the by-election clearly reflects the strong policies of the National Alliance party.
“It also strongly reflects the wishes of the people that the National Alliance-led Government must stay,” he said.
The win brought the NA Highlands Region membership to 11, a strong sign of stability, he said.
He also urged critics and other contestants to let bygones be bygones and collaborate to move the electorate, and the nation, forward.
For now, Mr Polye said he would spend time with family and celebrate Christmas and looked forward to starting afresh in 2010, from where he had left off prior to August.
NA Highlands deputy parliamentary leader and Education Minister James Marape, when welcoming Mr Polye yesterday, pointed out that the party had procedures and policies in place and, in due course, all would fall into place.
Mr Marape, who was elected deputy leader of the ruling party after Mr Polye was ousted, did not clarify whether he would step aside for Mr Polye, saying only that party process would follow in due course.
But Mr Marape did say the NA-led Government believed in “stability and continuity” and Mr Polye’s win only reinforced the belief.
Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi, NA national president Simon Kaiwi, and party executives James Kond and Rex Pakii were also on hand to welcome Mr Polye.
The writs will be returned today and signed by Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane.