MPs flown to remote camp

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – At least 81 members of the ruling People’s National Congress Party and their coalition partners are now camped in the Milne Bay provincial capital of Alotau.

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill led a team of 72 MPs to Alotau on a chartered flight on Sunday, the Post-Courier reports.

By today around 10 more government MPs were due to join the camp in Alotau and will remain there until Friday when parliament convenes to address the vote of no-confidence in O’Neill as the prime minister.

While not saying the removal of MPs from the captial Port Moresby was an effort to deny the opposition access to government members, Finance Minister said it was an opportunity for members of the government caucus to take a week to review polices.

Speaking following a meeting of the government caucus before leaving for Alotau, Marape said the government numbers were strong with government members from the People’s National Congress, National Alliance, United Resources Party, People’s Progress Party, New Generation Party and a number of independents in unity.

“I assure all our investors, the business community and citizens that our government numbers stand with PNC at 59, National Alliance at 14, URP at eight and a number from PPP, NGP, SDP, PDM and other independents,” he said.

“We have 91 members of parliament in the government.”

National Alliance Party leader Pruaitch said his 12 Members will stick with O’Neill and PNC till 2017 Elections.

URP Party leader Duma also said they will stick with PNC until elections.

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru said he will be joining the government and its coalition in Alotau on Wednesday.

Prime Minister O’Neill said that since the formation of the government they had not had the opportunity to sit down and discuss their programmes with their coalition partners and members.

“This is not about numbers game. We are going down there to discuss our work programme for the next 12 months before the election,” O’Neill said. “We have programmes that we have done for the government, we have to plan for the next 12 months.” - PNC