O’Neill has support

By HELEN TARAWA
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill’s coalition government remains steadfast, demonstrating its strength in Parliament yesterday to shrug off moves by the Opposition to rattle and test its unity.
“The Government is well and truly solid, intact and we are ready to work,” O’Neill said.
“You can see the coalition leaders led by Sir Julius Chan, Peter Yama, Minister (William) Duma, (Sam) Basil, former prime minister Paias Wingti, to support a government that is working for the people of this country.”
The Government demonstrated its strength in a series of divisions winning by 59 votes to 50. The 59 plus the vote of Speaker Job Pomat means O’Neill commands a 60-50 majority in the House.
The remaining MP to be declared in 111-member Parliament is for Goroka Open.
“Our achievements are understated by many but I can assure you that the policies and the work that our Government had done for the people of PNG is very visible,” he said.
“That is the belief that many of our members continue to have in this government and we are thankful.”
O’Neill said MPs in the Opposition camp yesterday tested their numbers in the House.
“We shall continue to work in a manner that is going to reflect the good of the country rather than the interest of the individuals” he said.
“We are thankful for the support that the coalition partners have given to us.”
After Parliament was adjourned to May 28, Tari-Pori MP James Marape and Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah filed on behalf of the Opposition group a no-confidence motion against O’Neill.
Pomat confirmed receiving the motion and said he would allow due process to take place. It will now go before the House’s private business committee for vetting.
It the committee clears the motion, it will be listed on the notice paper when Parliament resumes on May 28.
Meanwhile, O’Neill said there were in-house issues to do with the party which resulted in some of the members resigning.
“Much of the problem has of course been in my own party PNC.
“There are some in-house issues and there were always some leadership ambitions within our own big party. There have been defections.”
He wished former ministers Marape, Sir Puka Temu, Solan Mirisim and William Samb and MPs who had crossed the floor well in their endeavour to pursue leadership issues and challenges.
“We will continue to work with them over the next three or four years,” he said.
O’Neill said the Opposition’s strategy was to test the numbers on the Government side.
“They even tried to remove the Speaker but that failed,” he said.
“We give credit to the Speaker for maintaining a big quorum and maintain fairness in Parliament.
“They displayed a mature and strong leadership in allowing the parliamentary process to continue.”