The East New Britain Pangu Pati block remains intact, following the return of Pomio MP Elias Kapavore to government.
East New Britain Governor Michael Marum announced this on Sunday September 1st, when officially welcoming Kapavore back to the fold.
Kapavore said he had never resigned as a Pangu member, during his three months with Opposition when he moved across with former Finance Minister and Alternative Prime Minister nominee Rainbo Paita before the last parliament session.
Marum said all the national leaders in the province have a strong working relationship, and even when Kapavore had defected with the 12 other MPs to the Opposition, they were still working together.
“At the recent gathering at Lolota… I remember Pomio MP was not there, and we (ENB MPs) started asking…we were trying to find out what was happening, where he was…so, we got together, and….had some discussions. I told the East New Britain leaders, including (Rabaul MP) Dr. Alan Marat, what had happened.”
“We were expecting a decision from the leader and been working. We never separated, inside the group of leaders of East New Britain and also, I think, most of us NGI.”
“Even after the (Parliament) session, if I go back, we all worked in all our districts, the province.”
“I remember Pomio MP and me contacting…and I told him to come back.”
“Thank you for coming back,” Marum told Kapavore, further thanking the Prime Minister “for allowing” him to come back inside the party, and also the government.
“The support that we got from the province over the line.”
“Just for the record, mipla ol (we) East New Britain leaders, our government, Fisheries Minister Jelta Wong and his staff, Dr. Alan Marat, and we pass on his apology for not being here today – he’s got the flu.”
“And also, Kokopo MP Ereman ToBaining, we flew in together…so he could probably join us after. But, you know, we have a lot to do in the province.”
“Like, Prime Minister, he told me, Pomio MP.”
“There’s a lot of plans where we would like, improve how our people are, how we can grow its agriculture, so in order for us to do that, probably the only best thing for us is to stay together in East New Britain and be in government.”
“On behalf of everyone of us, we are supporting this, and I look forward to work with you in government,” Governor Marum said.