Approved for Release- Office of the Prime Minister
PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape has acknowledged the decision of Gulf Provincial MP Sir Chris Haiveta to leave the Government and join the Opposition, affirming Sir Chris’s right to make independent decisions.
“Every leader, including Sir Chris, is entitled to his or her own opinions and decisions. I have no issue with him announcing today that he is leaving Government and joining Opposition,” Prime Minister Marape stated.
The Prime Minister expressed his respect for Sir Chris’s extensive experience in Papua New Guinea politics.
“He is a veteran of Papua New Guinea politics, including the last five years, where we have tried to manage the economy in very trying circumstances. We have tried our best to share resources equally to all parts of the country, including Sir Chris’ Gulf, as he knows only too well,” Prime Minister Marape said.
However, the Prime Minister also urged Sir Chris to be forthright about his reasons for joining the Opposition amidst the current political environment.
“Everyone knows the vote-of-no-confidence is on, so he should get real, and tell us the real
reasons why he is leaving Government and joining Opposition than hiding behind the
camouflage of equal distribution of resources,” Marape remarked.
Prime Minister Marape emphasised that Sir Chris, along with other leaders, has the constitutional freedom to change political affiliations and that he welcomes such decisions.
“Sir Chris is free, by virtue of Section 50 of the Constitution, to move around. He, and all leaders who don’t like my style of leadership, are free to do so. Sir Chris is also a member of the Private Business Committee and I urge him, and Opposition MPs, not to make mistake after mistake as they have been doing for five times this year they filed for VONC,” Prime Minister Marape added.
The Prime Minister further clarified the procedural expectations for the Opposition MPs.
“Fill in the form properly, bring it to Parliament, and Sir Chris is on the Private Business Committee to witness compliance to Standing Order requirements. If all things are done properly, we can then test numbers on the floor of Parliament,” he said.
Despite the current political developments, Prime Minister Marape expressed confidence in the support of the majority of Pangu Pati MPs.
“Most MPs are not stupid and carefully watching all this ‘Alternate Prime Minister’ game being played by the Opposition,” he observed.
The Prime Minister also noted that Sir Chris was not originally part of the Pangu team that formed the Government in 2019 and suggested that his departure makes no difference.
“That said, Sir Chris was never a part of the Pangu team that formed Government in 2019, being a one-man party until we reined him in just before the 2022 National General Election. If he does not find comfort in my leadership, it’s best that he leaves, and the Pangu caucus will decide his membership with the Party. Prime Minister Marape said.
The Prime Minister also recalled Sir Chris was part of the 2020/2021 team of many former prime ministers and deputy prime ministers who failed to remove him from office despite many attempts.
“Lest we forget, he was part of the 2020 team that failed to remove me from office, and is trying yet again,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“I appeal to all our people to remain calm as elected officials carry out their duties. This is
nothing new. In fact, many of these leadership combinations have done little for Papua New
Guinea to be proud of.
“Their combined past records are marred by numerous dark chapters in our nation’s history, including the Cayman Islands accounts, the devaluation of the Kina in 1994, the 1995 abolition of the provincial government system to centralise power in Waigani, the Cairns Conservatory building, the Bougainville Crisis, the Sandline Crisis, the National Provident Fund saga, the bankruptcy and eventual fire sale of PNG Banking Corporation to BSP, and more recently, the UBS Oil Search saga.
“I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, witnessing these so-called ‘leaders’ stifling the growth of PNG. I will do everything in my power to prevent this cohort of elected cronies from reemerging to exploit and deplete PNG’s public coffers once again.”
