‘We promised reality, not the moon’

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – We are not a government that promised the moon, we promised reality for our people.”

This was the essence a message from the Papua New Guinea government faction now in camp in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, awaiting Friday’s vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

The government group said more than 80 MPs were intact at the meeting at the birthplace of the Alotau Accord – the work plan laid out following the 2012 election by the parties and members that went on to form the present government.

“The Alotau Accord is now an historic agreement in the history of our nation,” a statement from O’Neill said.

“We promised the reality that we could deliver in education, healthcare, law and order and infrastructure, and we are delivering on what we promised.

“We look forward to returning to Port Moresby this Friday and maintaining our position in government,” he said.

“It is fulfilling to see that we have achieved close to 90 per cent of our commitments under the Alotau Accord and we will deliver a full report in this in the coming months,” O’Neill said.

“Although some of our former prime ministers have left us to join the opposition, we will continue to deliver services to our people until the 2017 elections.”

Former prime ministers Sir Michael Somare, Sir Julius Chan and Sir Mekere Morauta have pledged to support the opposition and vote against O’Neill.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader, Don Polye had accused the prime minister of using taxpayer funds to fly the government members to Alotau.

Polye said that the Alotau camp was costing the state-owned Mineral Resources Development Company US$20 million and the Finance Ministry US$35 million.

The Prime Minister said his People’s National Congress Party had funded the trip.

- PNC sources