Speaker recognises 25 parliamentary leaders

By JEFFREY ELAPA
PARLIAMENT has recognised 25 parliamentarians who will lead their parties in the general election.
Speaker Jeffery Nape said the People Action Party and National Alliance Party were yet to have parliamentary leaders.
The People Democratic Party and Rural Development Party were yet to decide on their leaders.
A list of political parties released by the registrar of political parties and candidates revealed that 37 political parties were registered, five were yet to be registered and another 25 parties were deregistered – a total of 67 political parties.
Nape said the 25 political parties and parliamentary leaders to lead their parties were: People’s National Congress – Peter O’Neill; PNG party –Belden Namah; Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party – Don Polye; United Resources Party – William Duma; PNG Constitutional Development party – Tobias Kulang; Melanesian Liberal Party – Dr Allan Marat; People’s Progress Party – Sir Julius Chan; PNG Labor Party – Dr Bob Danaya; Country Party – Thompson Harokaqveh; People’s First Party – Luther Wenge; United Party – Bob Dadae; Social Democratic Party – Powes Parkop; Our Party – Sir Puka Temu; and New Generation Party – Bart Philemon.
Nape said the parliamentary leader of the Rural Development Party Moses Maladina would hand over the party leadership to him later.
The others in the opposition and middle bench are Peter Ipatas’ People’s Party, Pangu’s Andrew Kumbakor, Anderson Agiru’s People’s Assembly Party and Dame Carol Kidu’s Melanesian Alliance.
However he said Kidu would be retiring from politics.
He also stated that the National Alliance was yet to submit the name of its party leader.
He said the People Action Party, National Party and Peoples Democratic Party did not have a parliamentary leader.