By SEPKOLIN WALNE
THE office of the Registry of Political Party has presented a cheque of K3.4 million to all all registered political parties.
Prime Minister James Marape, who officiated during the presentation, stressed on Pangu Pati’s continued support for the political party system.
“As Pangu Party in government today and we have been since 13th June 1967, we know that it is our duty to make sure all parties are given that in support. Pangu has always been a beneficiary of coalition government arrangements since 1972,” he said.
“For the record, I just want to impress upon all of you, the first government that prepared us for independence in 1975. It was the 1972 government.”
Registrar of Political Parties Emmanuel Pok acknowledged the Marape-Rosso government for honouring their commitment in paying a total amount of K3.4 million owed to the political parties as annual state grants and monthly salaries for party presidents and treasurers since 2023.
“The state funding is very timely, as we walk into the month of our 50th Independence Anniversary, we renumerate our political parties and their hardworking executives to continue their mandated responsibilities in building and maintaining our democracy,” he said.
“Political parties past and present have contributed significantly to the robust democracy we have enjoyed in the last 50 years. We are still here as a democracy because of the work of political parties. They have laid the foundations of our democracy,” Mr Pok said.
Mr Pok added that political parties worked tirelessly to bring good Papuan New Guinean leaders into Parliament.
“Under trying circumstances, given our challenging geographical setting, political parties endorse, supports and campaign for their candidates to make sure they win and come to Parliament and contribute meaningfully to the development of our country.
“Political Parties are important institutions in our democracy; they are a key pillar of our democracy. They provide the policy platform on which Governments formulate policy decisions,” Mr Pok said.