Namah invited

By FRANK S KOLMA
BELDEN Namah and his PNG Party were invited to join the next government which was all but signed and sealed yesterday.
Namah’s PNG Party, which was in the opposition for most of the last term of parliament, looked set to head back there.

The remainder of the outgoing coalition in Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party of Don Polye, the People’s Party of Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, Hela Governor Anderson Agiru’s People’s United Assembly and the single-member Our Development Party of Abau MP Sir Puka Temu all joined hands to form a new government of “national reconciliation and national unity” with Peter O’Neill as prime minister.
They joined former prime ministers, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s National Alliance, Sir Julius Chan’s People’s Progress Party and  Paias Wingti’s People’s Democratic Movement who, a day earlier ,began the stampede to be in government.
Only Hagen open MP William Duma’s United Resources Party was not spoken for yesterday while Namah’s PNG Party was said to be camping in Kokopo, East New Britain province. He could not be contacted to comment.
The olive branch for Namah was offered by Sir Puka:  “I am requesting the current deputy prime minister (Namah) to join the team. We need to reconcile, we need to work together in the interest of the nation.”
O’Neill said he was speaking with everyone but it was up to PNG Party to make its own decision whether to take up the invitation to join or not.
Asked if he will accept Namah back in the fold, O’Neill replied: “That decision is not mine to make alone. Our coalition partners will need to be consulted. We will take it day by day.”
O’Neill would not disclose numbers  but he said: “Today’s move gives us an overwhelming majority. Well over 56.”
Actually, the O’Neill camp boasts 54 members (these included two independents) out of the 69 declared so far. O’Neill is two shy of a simple majority necessary to form government on the strength of the movements so far.
The latest two declared yesterday were James Gau for Raicoast open boosting T.H.E Party strength to six and the return of Bogia MP and National Alliance stalwart, John Hickey, which also boosts NA to six.
Forty-two seats are yet to be declared. 
Namah’s PNG Party has returned five members, with Pangu Pati’s Ludwig Shultz and the Reform Party’s Joseph Lelang and Sasinda Muthuvel. It was claimed that Dr Allan Marat’s two Melanesian Liberal Party members might also be in Kokopo. But that could not be confirmed.