EVENTS IN THE ROGUE PARLT AS IT DISSOLVED

BY REGINALD RENAGI

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has just finished addressing parliament and Deputy PM; Belden Namah is now addressing the floor. BN is thanking everyone who stood with the PM on 2 August last year to facilitate the required change. PNG must be prepared to accept the new changes envisaged under a new leadership and political landscape.

DPM is now giving tribute to Dame Kidu and Sir Mekere Morauta for their long service to PNG politics and wishes them well in their retirement from politics, and other future endeavours. DPM also makes further reference to other elder MPs who needs to also follow these two MPs good example, and not be like dinosaurs by hanging on to their political positions for as long as they can. Could he be referring to the former PM, MTS and to Sir J? DPM also assured the house that he is hoping the government will be returned to power after the polls to initiate certain fundamental political reforms...one change he would like to see is an improvement to our electoral system.

The opposition leader, Dame Carol Kidu is now addressing the floor. The Dame thanks the former PM MTS for making her a Minister in his government when she did not have the numbers like the other MPs had. The Dame also thanks former DPM in the former government for supporting her in her lonely position of being the lone opposition leader as her deputy. She thanks her constituent, the people of Moresby South for returning her to parliament on three terms. Carol Kidu also agrees that while we need good political reforms but we must not do it at the expense of political expediency. Further commendation goes to her former Department of Community Development for its efforts to make the community a safer place for our people. Dame Carol Kidu wishes all her parliamentary peers all the best in the coming elections and welcomes any new players to the People's Assembly after the polls.

Dame Carol Kidu gave a very good and memorable farewell address as the parliamentary opposition leader this afternoon without once being interrupted by anyone.
Thank you for your service to parliament, government and the people of PNG in your many capacities as a state minister and especially to the people of Moresby-South and the Motu-Koitabu communities of Central Province.