ULC leader congratulates Menyamya’s new MP

UNITED Labour Party leader Sam Basil has congratulated People’s National Congress candidate Benjamin Philip on his declaration as Menyamya MP.
Basil also applauded John Pelika on the legacy votes he polled in the wake of his late father and former MP Thomas Pelika.
“We knew we were taking a gamble in endorsing young Pelika but we felt it was the right thing to do – to honour the late Menyamya MP and his family and supporters,”
Basil, who is also Minister for National Planning in the Marape-Steven Government, said.
ULP endorsed Pelika with a view to continue the legacy of former MP Thomas Pelika, who was a supporter of Basil and one of the 10 founding MPs of the United Labour Party.
“We have no regrets on young Pelika’s endorsement.
“As parliamentary leader, on behalf of the ULP following, I want to thank those who honoured our choice,” he said.
“I want to thank the Prime Minister James Marape and his Pangu Pati who publicly honoured the memory of the late Thomas Pelika by not endorsing a candidate for the Menyamya Open seat to run against young Pelika.”
Basil said as a newly-constituted political party they were a close- knit family and wanted that to be part of their legacy while they looked to develop the party and its policies.
“In line with that, ULP is looking forward to contest the Goroka Open by-election to build numbers.
“In the coming 2022 national elections, our focus will be to retain the current seats we have as part of this close-knit core group and seek to expand and build our numbers.
“We are currently working on ULP criteria for selection of candidates which we will announce possibly during the ULP membership and awareness drive nationwide.”
Basil said those who had applied for ULP party membership would be receiving their membership cards soon.
Meanwhile, police personnel who worked during the Menyama by-election were commended for their efforts.
Returning officer Nande Awape said the good work of the police had seen the election conducted peacefully.