Tari-Pori son makes it to the top as Prime Minister

Forty-eight year old James Marape from Paipali village Tari in the new Hela province registers himself in the political history books of Papua New Guinea as the eight Prime Minister.

A son of a Seventh Day Adventist elder and pastor, he was yesterday overwhelmingly voted by Parliament registering 101 votes in the 111 seat Parliament.

Mr Marape the eldest has four other siblings among them only one female.

He attended Minj Primary School in Jiwaka and later Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School in the Eastern Highlands during the early part of his education.

James Marape (right) in his Hela regalia

He later attended the University of Papua New Guinea gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 and further attained a postgraduate Honours Degree in Environmental Science in 2000.

He recently graduated with a Masters of Business Administration from the same university.

In his highest public service career, he served as acting assistant secretary for policy with the Department of Personnel Management from 2001 until 2006 and later entered Parliament.

He also worked in the private sector with Hides Gas earlier on.

A third term politician, he defeated eight votes against him yesterday favouring former Prime Minister and Moresby Northwest MP Sir Mekere Morauta.

Parliament voted for him replacing Peter O’Neill after two months of unstable political climate under the leadership of Peter O’Neill with many defections, back-flips and resignations of government ministers who were bitter about how the government was being run.

James Marape apparently started the mission to replace Peter O’Neill by rattling the Cabinet when on April 11, 2019 he resigned as Finance Minister.

He was then also leader of government business.

Peter O’Neill subsequently tendered his resignation to Governor General Sir Bob Dadae at 9.45am on Wednesday, May, 29, 2019 after conceding that he did not have the numbers to lead commanding only 42 MPs and there was imminent dissent and motion of a vote of no confidence against him was looming.

O’Neill’s resignation effectively rendered any motion invalid as there was already a vacancy in the office of Prime Minister and Parliament subsequently voted Marape a day later.

After being sworn in at government house by the Governor General Sir Bob Dadae yesterday, Marape presented his maiden speech in Parliament as Prime Minister admitting to the leaders there were mammoth tasks ahead in addressing development challenges and fixing the economy.

He told Parliament that on his way to be sworn in at Government House yesterday there was much jubilation on the streets but he was reminded that he has a huge responsibility a head.

“This is a privilege I don’t take for granted and I humbly accept on behalf of my wife, children, tribe, Tari-Pori, and Hela I am greatful,” he said.

“I acknowledge all the past Prime Ministers for what they have done some of those men are still serving their country.” 

“Among us you have a pool of leadership and wisdom I am encouraged by the fact that there is strength and stamina among this house,” he added.

In acknowledging the wealth of experience, among his government coalition he said he would immediately appoint his Cabinet.

Marape is not new to politics, he first entered Parliament after the 2007 national general elections as a National Alliance party member.

He defeated former Tari-Pori MP Tom Tomiape and under Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister he first served as parliamentary secretary for Works, Transport and Civil Aviation.

He was also given additional responsibilities as Deputy Chair of the Privileges Committee and member of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Inter-government relations.

A year later he was appointed Minister for Education in 2008 and held that ministry until the controversial overthrow of Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister on August 2, 2011.

In February 2012 Marape joined the People’s National Congress party led by former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

He won the June 2012 national general elections for the second term representing the people of Tari-Pori and again in 2017.

After both elections which the People’s National Congress party under Peter O’Neill successfully installed government, he served as Finance Minister for seven years- the period of time Peter O’Neill was Prime Minister and he yesterday succeeded him.

The ride to be Prime Minister though was not plain sailing.

There had to be intense lobbying and political marriages and break ups but he appeared to have commandeered a following of 28 MP’s who committed to him and when the vote was taken, it shot up to 101.

He is now the chief government minister of Papua New Guinea and as he admitted it comes with more responsibility for the nation and if he hadn’t said it, he had to also juggle this with his family life- attending to six children and wife Rachel.

Rachel Marape (middle) with Parliament staff when her husband
 was elected Prime Minister

In Parliament yesterday, he said his government would perform a diagnostic analysis of how the country has been functioning with an emphasis on “taking back the economy” and looking at resource laws.

He has three years to lead as Prime Minister before the next general elections in 2022.

The previous longest serving Prime Ministers were Sir Michael Somare 2002 to 2011(9 years) and Peter O’Neill 2011 to 2019 (8 years).

Sir Julius Chan makes a statement in PNG Parliament

New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan makes a statement in PNG Parliament on May 29, 2019. It was during the resignation of Peter O'Neill as Prime Minister

My friends, I just want to say a few words today. 

I have been part of the politics of this country for more years than this country has existed.  I have seen times of crisis, times of danger, times of peril.  But in my more than 50 years of politics I have never seen the kind of hostility, the kind of division, the kind of – and I must use the word – the kind of hatred I have seen in the past weeks. 

That is why – three days ago – I went to see the Prime Minister.  And I talked frankly to him.  I said I felt that the longer he tried to stay in office the more the country would become divided.  And as a friend I suggested that the thing that he could do at this time to show his love for his country was to step aside. 

Peter O’Neill heard what I was saying.  And he agreed to step aside. 

I think we can learn from Peter O’Neill.  Let us put away self-interest.  Let us put away greed.  Let us put away anger.  Because, my friends, we have made a horrible mistake. 

We have fooled ourselves into thinking that Government and Opposition are enemies.  They are not.

Sir Julius Chan makes the statement in Parliament

 We have enemies, but the enemies are those who would divide us, those who would have us attack and slander each other.  And in doing so they prevent us from dealing with the real problems our country faces.  And believe me, we have serious problems we all need to deal with.

A wise man once said “There is no sea more dangerous than the ocean of politics.  And it is when the waves rise to their highest that there is the greatest need of an experienced captain, a good crew, and of a single, unfaltering purpose. “

So today let us act as adults.  Today let us declare ours is not a Government of any one party, or of three or four or five parties.  No…

Today let us declare our Government is a UNION of Papua New Guinea PATRIOTS.   Today let us agree that we will ALL WORK TOGETHER – as Patriots of Papua New Guinea – to take control of our country – to take our country back!! 

Today we can take the first step.  Today we can work together – TOGETHER – to find a captain.  Peter O’Neill has opened a door for us.  Let us walk through. 

Let us all agree on an experienced captain to pilot the Ship of State into a truly prosperous future.  And let us all serve as a good crew, a united crew. A patriotic crew.

Together we can do this.  As Patriots.  As Papua New Guineans. 

The hurdles in ousting Peter O'Neill as Prime Minister

Intense lobbying is going on between politicians to muster numbers in electing a Prime Minister through a motion of no confidence against incumbent Peter O’Neill.

The motion is likely to be moved when Parliament resumes next week, May 7.

At this stage, we don’t know who would be the candidate.

Peter O’Neill though has enjoyed a strong and stable Government since his ascension and controversial election as Prime Minister on August 2, 2011.

He then successfully returned as Prime Minister after two national general elections- 2012 and 2017.

Peter O'Neill (right) sitting in Parliament

His ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) party in 2017 mustered majority of the electoral wins and was invited by the Governor General to form government which he did and enjoyed stability and cohesion since.

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was the last longest serving Prime Minister who held the post for a record nine years (2002 to 2011).

Despite Peter O’Neill’s much stabilised reign, there were serious and constant allegations labeled against his government for mismanagement, running the economy down, corruption, breaches of law, favoritism in offering contracts- allegations mainly issued by the Opposition, pressure groups and political commentators.

But Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has never been weakened and countered the allegations through some well crafted public relations responses playing down the severity of the allegations and pointing people to increased infrastructure developments.

He was loved, admired, praised and his coalition government numbers increased to a comfortable 86.

But the recent events of resignations by his government ministers’ (James Marape –Finance and Davis Steven- Justice and Attorney General) and MP’s defecting from his PNC party though minor from his standpoint- it’s been rattling and Papua New Guineans with their rationale conclude that things are not right within Peter O’Neill’s coalition.

If we were to prematurely crunch numbers, Peter O’Neill has about 79 members, that includes West Sepik’s Governor Anthony Wouwou who did an unorthodox move courting one anti-O’Neill camp comprising members of the Opposition, made news headlines that he had defected but within less the 24 hours made news headlines again courting his party leader Peter O’Neill and dispelling media reports he left the party.

Tari Pori MP James Marape (right) shaking hands with Morobe
 Governor Ginson Saonu, 

The Opposition has 24 members and excluding the Speaker, the balance of seven dissenting MP’s would most likely vote against Peter O’Neill.

While lobbying and strategic political maneuverings and discussions may not have reached the mass media, surely there are deep discussions behind the scenes.

People everywhere are watching with keen interest through social media, radio, TV, newspapers and online news media.

As it is, there are three options likely to eventuate after all the political hype and lobby against Peter O’Neill is settled within the next possible three weeks.

I say three weeks because a notice of motion to move a vote of no confidence has to be presented to the Speaker of Parliament, a week before it is moved.

The motion will be vetted by a committee chaired by the Speaker and the motion must be signed by several MP’s who also propose the alternate Prime Minister.

So there’s a bit of work to do for any one or group to first muster the magic number of 56 and then get the nod from the Speaker and his committee.

If Peter O’Neill was to survive the vote of no confidence, though he has been confident and firm that his coalition government was intact and as vibrant as ever, he must be reminded that cracks have surfaced from within and he must be at his best than ever to counter.

He must hold strong the 79 he has as turn of events indicate shocking decisions can be made when you least expect it.

He must first ensure he is not voted out in the party caucus meeting.

James Marape has been forthright this week, he wants the PNC party leadership to be tabled-essentially he says he does not want Peter O’Neill to lead the party and be the Prime Minister.

Does James Marape imply he was one of many within the party who desires a change in party leadership?

Peter O’Neill has since responded that Marape was not welcome in the party caucus meeting.

The second option which could work to replace Peter O’Neill as Prime Minister is a major dissent from within the government coalition who votes against him. Again the magic number is 56.

The third which uses a similar modus operandi as the above in the vote of no confidence-the person can be from the coalition government or the opposition but they must convince and secure 56 votes to oust Peter O’Neill.

The first hurdle though is an alternate Prime Minister must have been chosen within the next six days.

While that looms, Papua New Guineans observe with keen interest how this would ­­­­­eventually pan out as lobbying intensifies and THE day gets closer day by day.