PNC vows strong opposition

Main Stories

IALIBU-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill says People’s National Congress (PNC) party he leads will provide a constructive opposition in Parliament.
It will reflect the peoples’ views, hopes and aspirations for the country, he added.
The PNC MPs are currently the only ones on the Opposition in Parliament.
Following a party caucus last week, O’Neill named Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang as the Opposition Leader and Kiriwina-Goodenough MP Douglas Tomuriesa as his (Lelang’s) deputy.
Pomio MP Elias Kapavore is PNC’s deputy leader.
Lelang said they would not oppose everything brought up by the Government .
“Issues facing our country in terms of economy, budget, rising prices, welfare of the people are real issues out there,” he said.
“We will keep the Government in check by debate on bills and proposed laws in Parliament and to debate on national issues and policies.”
O’Neill said the country had just come out of a “difficult” general election which took much longer than expected.
“We look forward to this Parliament,” he said.
“We are hoping that we can take real measures to mitigate some of the problems faced in the General Election 2022.”


Sia topples Numu

It was third time lucky for Goroka businessman Simon Sia who was declared the winner of the Eastern Highlands regional seat on Friday with an overwhelming 202,624 votes.
Runner-up and former governor Peter Numu finished with 156,450 votes.
Sia, who contested the past two elections finishing in the top three, finally won the race after surpassing the absolute majority of 179,539 votes at exclusion 61.
He first contested the seat in 2012 and came third in the seat which Julie Soso had won.
He then ran again in 2017 and came third with 34,804 votes, Livingstone Fontenu ran second with 88, 677 votes and Peter Numu won with 157,257.
The People’s National Congress (PNC) party candidate was declared by provincial returning officer Livingston Mangero at 7.10am on Friday at NSI counting centre.
Sia thanked PNG Electoral Commission officials led by provincial returning officer Gore Kaupa, the security force and counting officials for their work in completing the count.
He said although it was a tiring process, they had managed to complete the task.
Sia thanked fellow candidates who gave a good race, especially young politicians in Numu and Fontenu who finished in the second and third places.
The Malaysian-born businessman who has lived in Eastern Highlands since the 1990s, thanked the people for giving him the mandate to represent them.
He also congratulated the province’s eight open MPs and urged them to work together for the good of the Eastern Highlands people.


Briefs

Decision backed
IMBONGGU MP and former Justice Minister Pila Niningi says that he agrees with Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai’s decision to accept two disputed writs from Morobe. He said Sinai had it within his powers to accept the declaration of the Kabwum and Markham writs in Morobe because there were special provisions under the Organic Law that allowed him to do so.

Duo commended
AN activist Matilda Pilacapio says the election of Rufina Peter and Kessy Sawang into Parliament shows that women can be voted into office in Papua New Guinea. “These two women will be representing our voices, the women of PNG and I commend them for making it,” she said. “I want to congratulate all the men who voted for these two ladies.”