O’Neill confident PNC will provide numbers

By HELEN TARAWA
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill says the People’s National Congress Party he leads remains the biggest party in Parliament with 27 MPs.
O’Neill who is stepping down and handing over the reins to former prime minister and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan said the recent “movement” of MPs had indicated a need for a change.
There are 48 MPs remaining in the Government as of yesterday.
“I want to assure our members particularly PNC supporters throughout the country that we will provide the numbers. We are still the largest party in government. We will provide the numbers for the stability of our country,” he said.
“Some of those who had come to join us in the last two years have left and created other parties or joined other parties for their affiliation. It’s not easy when you have a large number of members moving to and fro. We are a government that listens to the people and tried our best to deliver to their expectations. All good things come to an end and our duty as a nation and leaders is to make sure we work for our people.”
He said Sir Julius was a “veteran leader and one of the founding fathers” of PNG.
“We will support him joined by Sam Basil, a young vibrant leader who had showed great discipline and loyalty in providing stability that the government needs. With our deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel and other leaders of PNC and other minor coalition partners, we maintained a solid government. Some of the outspoken governors who wanted this change now have an opportunity to support Sir Julius.”