New Eastern Highlands MPs unite to back PNC

NINE new MPs from Eastern Highlands will move as a united force to back caretaker Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s People’s National Congress Party to gain better recognition.
The resolution was passed in a meeting in Goroka yesterday by candidates leading in the top three of the elimination process.
Re-elected Unggai-Bena MP Benny Allan spearheaded the move to unite the nine MPs from the province to support PNC to get maximum recognition and benefits to the province and districts.
“We got all the top three leading candidates to resolve to fight as a united force to be in the government as a group,” Allan said.
He said as a PNC candidate and the first to be declared, he initiated the move.
“Over the past 10 years, all MPs from Eastern Highlands have been operating in isolation and we do not want this to be repeated in this new parliament.
“We want to move together to be a force in the new government,” Allan said.
He said the decision was unanimous to put aside party affiliations to push for a united front for the good of Eastern Highlands and its districts.
“We also extend our invitation to new MPs from Jiwaka and Chimbu to join us as Eastern bloc so we move together as we went to the polls late and are late in getting to the political camps.”
Newly declared MPs in the Eastern Highlands group are Robert Atiafa (Henganofi), Jeffrey Kuave (Lufa), Johnson Tuke (Kainantu), Merrah Minne Kipefa (Obura-Wonenara) and Allan (Unggai-Bena).
Daulo, Okapa and Goroka and the regional seat are yet to be declared.