PNG’s Chinese changing of the guard
Cautious notes for social media activists

Why the best MPs will never lead PNG

MICHAEL KABUNI
| Academia Nomad

Rainbow
Rainbow Paita MP  -  one of the backroom operatives always in with a chance of running the country (Facebook)

PORT MORESBY - Rainbow Paita is the MP for Finschhafen Open and a senior minister in the Marape coalition government.

Paita’s name often floats around when attempts of a vote of no confidence occur aimed at securing the prime minister’s position.  Either he’s a candidate or a behind the scenes operative.

It seems that Paita may have all the qualities required for a PNG prime minister, but not the qualities you are thinking of.

And that’s because almost all governments in Papua New Guinea’s are changed from within not outside.

This goes all the way back to Julius Chan replacing Michael Somare in the first vote of no confidence on 11 March 1982.

Most recently, in May 2019, James Marape filled the vacancy created when prime minister Peter O’Neill resigned to avoid the humiliation of a vote of no confidence.

After PNG’s next national election to be held before 2027, it wouldn’t surprise if Rainbow Paita, a member of the PANGU Pati ‘inside’ team, emerges as a contender.

It is clear that Clearly principled politicians rarely get the high post of prime minister in PNG.

Our Melanesian nation is a prime case of ambiguity, compromise and consensus reigning.

Prominent MPs like Gary Juffa, Brian Kramer and Allan Bird have set themselves a very high standard of ethical political behaviour and public expectations for them to play by the rules is very high.

Ironically, their determination to behave ethically and not hypocritically, limits their bargaining power in a transactional parliament and has resulted in them having few or no followers.

In PNG’s parliament, if you avoid the wheeling and dealing you become either a one person party or you exist without any party at all.

PNG’s politicians are so forgiving. They will vehemently criticise each other and then forgive each other, bond together and get along.

This was the case when Douglas Tomurisea apologised to O’Neill and came back in from the cold by taking the life of an innocent pig.

And I will never forget the photograph of Marape and William Duma hugging after Duma failed to replace Marape as a candidate for prime minister and then “slid unconsciously” (Duma’s own words) to vote for Marape when he became prime minister.

Paita is made from the same fabric as O’Neill and Marape. He’s of the the type that will work with his enemies and forgive others in the name of advancing the coalition’s interests.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not the type of leadership I prefer.

A principled government or prime minister is always preferable, it’s just that it won’t make you the prime minister of PNG.

As Papua New Guineans struggle through hard economic times, they just want prime minister Marape replaced.

They don’t café who replaces him so long as their name is not Marape or O’Neill.

If you have the ability to break the current government, you will be given the social license to do so by the populace, and therefore the support of other MPs.

My preference for prime minister is Governor Allan Bird – an MP who puts the national interest first.

But for Bird to become prime minister needs a miracle of biblical proportions.

By the way, I don’t claim here that Paita will contest the prime minister’s position. I simply don’t know his intention and this is social media rumour.

The point I make here is that, to become a prime minister in PNG, you need Rainbo-like characteristics. Not preferred characteristics, but historically the ones that maketh our prime ministers.

Papua New Guinea’s Party Leaders
There are 124 seats in the National Parliament
Data from Wikipedia

Party

Leader

MPs

Pangu Pati

James Marape

39

PNC

Joseph Lelang

17

URP

William Duma

11

NAP

Allan Bird

5

People's Party

Peter Ipatas

4

SDP

Powes Parkop

4

PFP

Richard Maru

4

PNG Party

Belden Namah

3

ULP

Vacant

3

Advance PNG

Muglua Dilu

2

National Party

Kerenga Kua

2

Liberal Party

John Thomas Pundari

2

AP

Bryan Kramer

1

PNG Greens

Richard Masere

1

MAP

Joseph Yopyyopy

1

NGP

Keith Iduhu

1

ODP

Puka Temu

1

PLP

Luther Wenge

1

PMC

Gary Juffa

1

PPP

Julius Chan

1

PRP

James Donald

1

Destiny Party

Marsh Narawec

1

THE Party

Don Polye

1

Independents

9

Comments

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John K Kamasua

The Social Democratic Party has six members of parliament. The party was founded in June 2010 by Powes Parkop, governor of the National Capital District.

Lindsay F Bond

Helpful summary, citing of 'ayes' on "bargaining power in a transactional parliament".

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