Opposition discusses next move after 15 MPs join camp
THE 63 MPs in the Opposition camp are in a “lockdown” to discuss their move to change the government now that they have a majority in Parliament.
After 15 more MPs including cabinet ministers defected from the government coalition beginning last Friday, Tari-Pori MP James Marape said they had to close the gate to their camp at the Laguna Hotel in Port Moresby at noon yesterday.
Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change and Kompiam-Ambum MP John Pundari was the last one to join the camp. MPs who arrived after noon were turned away.
Marape said the camp was now in lockdown and would hold a caucus to elect an alternative prime minister for the upcoming vote of no confidence against Peter O’Neill.
“We all decided to close the gate at 12 o’clock today as this is not a joke. This is about the people and the country,” he said.
“Today (yesterday) we turned away a few of our colleague MPs who came in after 12.”
He said during the Parliament session on May 7, they were “short by three”.
“But maybe it was not in God’s timing,” he said.
“Today, we have crossed the threshold of 56 and reached 63. That is the number we present to the country.” Marape said once they had the alternative government structure in place, they would be “in business to talk to anyone”.
Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch thanked the 39 MPs who had now joined the 24-member Opposition.
One thought on “Opposition discusses next move after 15 MPs join camp”
Opposition lured James Marape with the Prime Minister position if he joined Opposition camp and James Marape accepted.
With him, they tried desperately to get Sam Basil and Duma to join their camp also for the Prime Minister role, however, Duma before accepting the offer advised opposition that if Marape withdrew the alternate Prime Minister position, he will join so that opposition can nominate him for the Prime Minister role.
Now the original leaders of opposition Pruaitch, Kerenga, Mekere and the likes of the other MPs who served in the opposition wont be given the opportunity for the Prime Ministerial role? The MPs in opposition and the people of this nation are not happy for Marape and Duma for they have enjoyed luxury with PMPO and they have just joined opposition and will be seated on the golden plate?.
With all these, there is total confusion among the opposition group as to who will be nominated as Prime Minister.
Marape – his comments indicates that he is not qualified (people lost confidence)
Duma – Power hungry and running into opposition hoping to be nominated as PM, and moving to where the number is so he remains in government to hide his guilt, shame for theft of huge monies for the country.
Pruaitch – He has the experience and is qualified.
Kerenga – He is qualified for Deputy PM or either any ministry and not the Prime Ministers post. He needs to get more confidence in running a ministry.
On the other hand, if Duma is not the option for Opposition’s PM nominee as they promised, the 11 that Duma leads may defect the opposition on the 11th hour.
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