Parties: Accord dead

 By MALUM NALU
Political parties in the country have accused the ruling People’s National Congress of using the noble intentions of the Alotau Accord to increasingly strengthen its grip on power and to systematically manipulate the State to advance its interests.
The parties made said that in a joint communiqué signed during an emotional and highly-charged meeting in Port Moresby on Saturday.
They called on sacked former treasurer Don Polye and members of his Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party, as well as sacked Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma and his United Resources Party, to pull out of government because of the way they had been treated by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his PNC.
Spokesman and Social Democratic Party general secretary David Dom told reporters the Alotau Accord had outlived its usefulness.
“The Alotau Acord has served its purpose well for the ruling coalition partner and its leadership,” he said.
“It served to extend the grace period to four years.
“Thus, it has delivered the desired political stability or more precisely protection and continuity in office for the ruling coalition partner.
“This effectively emboldens and enables the PNC and its leadership to do whatever pleases them anytime without fear of any opposition or scrutiny whatsoever.
“The Alotau Accord, having served its purpose, is no longer useful. It has outlived its political use by date for all the signatories.
“It is no longer something which a politician or coalition partner can continue to worship or uphold or pledge loyalty to.”
Dom said some coalition partners and individual MPs such as Polye had been “mistreated, mishandled, humiliated, or intimidated by the ruling coalition partner”.
“PNC and its leadership shamelessly continue to deny the no-win situation they have found themselves in,” he said. “Instead, they continue to shamelessly brag about a non-existent need to uphold the Alotau Accord. It is apparent that they do this purely out of fear.
“The dominant coalition partner – the PNC and its leadership – are now sacking and replacing, and in the process humiliating quality ministers, civil servants and coalition partners at will.
“This is not in accord with the letter and spirit of the Alotau Accord.
“Nevertheless, they will continue to dish out the same treatment whether partners like it or not.
“There is no stopping them for the grace period gives them a sense of power, security, and infallibility.”