Party to seek new members

By GABRIEL LAHOC
THE People’s First Party is to go on a national membership drive before the general election.
The party is led by its sole parliamentarian and Morobe Governor Luther Wenge.
The membership drive was announced during the party’s first fundraising dinner this year at the Lae International Hotel last Friday where more than 400 supporters attended.
Wenge made the commitment in response to a challenge from United Party parliamentary leader and Kabwum MP Bob Dadae, who attended the event.
Wenge said the dinner was a day of celebrations.
“We must go nationwide, we need strong leadership,” Wenge said as he called on party secretary-general Peter Honale to ensure that it eventuated.
Wenge said with the limited preferential voting system, his party would partner with other parties during the campaign period because they were “enemy to none and a friend to all”.
He said the party achieved a lot in its 14-year history and could be counted on for contributing towards the Morobe provincial government’s successive court battles on:
l The Goods and Services Tax (GST);
l Enhanced Cooperation Programme (ECP);
l Reinstatement of council presidents into the provincial assembly; and
l The nullification of the election of the Governor-General.
He said because of the party’s open door policy, Morobe had benefited, especially from the influx of investors setting up businesses in Lae city.
“We have not run the country but we run Lae city and Morobe, Morobe people should be proud,” he said.
He told supporters that included several Lae businessmen, that the United Nations had recognised the party because of its achievements and its strong leadership.
“You have to produce to be recognised,” Wenge said.
The party will produce two books shortly to have on record its achievements and will host a second fundraiser in February.