O’Neill on offensive

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has branded MPs who recently crossed to the Opposition “opportunists”, with some now joining a political party “they had no regard for”.
In a stinging attack on the former members of his Cabinet and People’s National Congress Party who had resigned, O’Neill claimed that some could have been “caught in the Opposition money machine”.
“(They) have been influenced by promises that are essentially illegal and corrupt,” he said in a statement.
“Our Government will not put up with this behaviour and we will call for a proper police investigation into these activities.”
He however did not explain in the statement released yesterday what the activities are.
The 50 MPs in the Opposition camp are planning to move a vote of no confidence against O’Neill during the next sitting of Parliament starting on May 28.
But he brushed this aside saying “regardless of the aspirations of a few MPs, the business of government continues”.
“There are some opportunists that have shifted political allegiances for their own political convenience recently, but these are in the minority,” he said.
“Every leader has the right to do as their conscience dictates, but they must be honest with themselves, and more importantly, be honest with their districts and provinces.”
He also welcomed back Talasea MP Francis Maneke who had joined the opposition camp with others.
O’Neill questioned the five MPs who left Cabinet why they had “suddenly” changed their minds about the Government.
“It is impossible to think these are the same people who a few weeks ago were promoting this Government. Now they have flip-flopped and expect people to believe them.
“If they are so bound by their convictions, we have to wonder why they have not spoken out before now. The answer is very simple. They are just being opportunists.”
He said the MPs who had joined the Pangu Pati were desperate to find a “hausman regardless of political party philosophy and policy pillars or their own voters’ mandate”.
“They have tried to squeeze themselves into a party that they had no regard for,” he said.
“Pangu supporters know very well they have been taken over by their enemies.”
He warned that any move by the Opposition camp to cancel or review important resource agreements would be counter-productive.
“This is the single biggest disincentive to direct foreign investment in our country and will set back many years of building up our reputation as a stable investment destination,” he said.
He said the people had given him the mandate to lead the nation to the next general election.
“If our Government does not perform as we promised, our people will decide when we go to national election in 2022,” he said.
“For now I have the mandate of the people and I will honour that mandate in the best way I can.”