April 13th 2021
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today slammed Opposition Leader Belden Namah for his “negative politics in our country with no real and substantive policy alternate”.
He said this after yet another attempt by Namah to move a no-confidence motion in the April session of Parliament which begins next Tuesday.
PM Marape said Papua New Guinea must not forget Namah’s background, starting with the “illegal O’Neill-Namah Government of 2011” to last November’s ill-timed attempt to usurp power during COVID-19 season.
“I have been very patient over the last 23 months to allow for Hon. Belden Namah to exercise his rights to function as the Opposition Leader,” he said.
“However, he needs to be reminded of the greater responsibilities on him to rise above shallow quest for perks and power under the pretext of ‘constitutional duties’ to take over Government.
“The nation must not forget that in 2011, this same Namah was a key figure in the then-infamous ‘O’Neill-Namah Government’ that illegally took office and plundered K6 billion of surplus the National Alliance-led Government had in Government coffers.
“This was the start of the slide of our economy, and for Namah to have the audacity to use economy as a reason for change of Government one year on from the 2022 General Election is a gimmick.
“He has no history of fixing our country’s economy, and in fact, he would be part of a reckless team that would repeat the carnage and raid on our economy just like they did in 2011 in the face of 2012 elections.
“That is the real play behind all this ‘Namah-O’Neill love-hate -love politics’ that has held our country back over the last 10 years.”
PM Marape said now was not the time to change Government with the 2022 General Election just around the corner.
“I remind those who want to be in Government that elections are only 12 months away,” he said.
“Let’s rally behind our Government and tidy our Census and Common Rolls.
“Let’s have a bi-partisan approach to Election 2022, and if you are invited to form Government, then you can start fresh in 2022.
“What is the need, what is the haste, what programme will you deliver in 12 months, Mr Opposition Leader?
“It’s time now you put away your personal ego, it’s time now you move away from working for hidden interest groups, it’s time now we work as bi-partisan to prepare a platform for a free and fair general election next year.”
PM Marape said unnecessary no-confidence motions, such as that of last November, had a huge toll on the economy.
“The nation must know the price of Opposition-induced political instability,” he said.
“There is a cost to the economy that instability brings.
“For instance, we would have concluded the deal on Porgera last year, but it was derailed due to political instability.
“There is also a cost to public service functionality when we need all hands on deck to work in this COVID-19 times, and of course, it builds up unnecessary tensions in our community.
“All the above are results of continuous politics by those of us who should be mature, and putting the country first, then their own political egos and ambitions.”
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