As the country heads into a slow start to nominations that opened at 8am this morning, Prime Minister and Pangu Pati Leader James Marape challenged all contesting candidates in the 2022 National General Elections to put the interest of the country and its people at heart.
“To contest is not about a tribe against a tribe, or one big man against another nor is it a challenge against how much wealth you have to contest against another person.”
Marape said, “Leaders who are elected into office in the first instance and leaders appointed into public office in the second instance, have a greater task of harnessing a better future for our children and its a must to be upon every same thinking Papua New Guinean.”
PM James Marape said this at the officially launching of a new political party ‘’Advanced PNG Party” recently.
He said political parties are institutions and vehicles that must be used to ensure changes within the country are materialized through our public policies, legislative framework and change to the country in actual tangible framework. And launching of a new political party is always welcomed.
“Parties are institutions of the state, they are institutions of our people, parties are meant to drive ideologies to achieve certain outcomes, and those certain outcomes must be for the betterment of our people,” said Marape.
He also stated that whilst Pangu Pati is leading the “Connect PNG drive”, it is a policy that is owned by today’s generation of leaders who come from all over the country.
“The journey to building our country for the better, reaching the unreached, connecting the unconnected, touching the untouched and remembering the forgotten, those who have being left on the byways and sideways, the tasks belongs to present day present day Papua New Guinean Leaders”.
Marape is challenging all to not have bad motive or selfish motives when contesting, he reiterated that this country must be rich with alternate leadership with experience in our midst so that together we keep ourselves in check and balance so that accountability and public policy interest matures to the best for our people.