'I accept my sacking' ousted Treasury Minister Don Polye says

Don Polye, MP

By ISAAC NICHOLAS
Post Courier, 12th March, 2014  

SACKED Treasury Minister Don Polye has made it clear that THE Party will continue to maintain the coalition government solidarity.

Mr Polye, flanked by Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion, went to the Prime Minister's office in Parliament to present THE Party parliamentary wing resolution after their caucus meeting on Monday night.

The meeting followed the Prime Minister's sacking of Mr Polye and his Southern region deputy leader Mark Maipakai.

Mr Polye called a media conference with party members including Mr Dion, Mr Maipakai, Mendi MP De Kevanu, Lagaip-Porgera MP Nixon Mangape and Chuave MP Wera Mori to state that it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister to commission and decommission ministers, which his Party respects.
"The party’s resolution is to remain intact with the O’Neill-Dion government because we believe in political and economic stability. "We will continue to maintain the coalition government solidarity," Mr Polye said.

It is understood Mr Polye was decommissioned after he refused to sign a $A1.225 billion loan (approximately K3 billion) which the O'Neill Government is trying to take from the UBS Investment Bank to fund a 10.1 per cent stake in Oil Search Limited.

It appears section 209 of the PNG Constitution appears to be the main inspiration behind the sacked cabinet minister's refusal to sign. The provision relates to parliament responsibility over public expenditure and the need for parliament to authorize and control raising of expenditure including the raising of loans.

"I will continue to support the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministers and government to serve the people of PNG with all care." Mr Polye said he will perform his other duties, giving more time to the development of Kandep and his role as the chairman of the IMF/World Bank and the leadership role of THE Party with renewed vigor and commitment.

"Whatever decision the Prime Minister makes after all these developments is basically beyond my or THE Party’s control. THE Party has made its resolutions known to the Prime Minister and we will stand by our decision."

He thanked the Deputy Prime Minister, the four representatives of THE Party and the 14 parliamentary wing members for their vote of confidence in his leadership. He also thanked THE Party executives, network and supporters throughout the country for their understanding and steadfast support and solidarity.

Government insiders say if Mr Polye had signed it would have also breached the Fiscal Responsibilities Act, which strives to keep government debts below GDP and at manageable levels. He said he did not want to go down low to be critical of the Prime Minister’s decision to decommission the two ministers and leaders of THE Party.

"I made no mistake. I made no wrong. My conscience is very clear that my conduct in the past or present has always been in the best interest of the 7.8 million people of PNG, the solidarityand stability of O’Neill-Dion government and economic prosperity of this nation," Mr Polye said. He said the Party supports very strongly these principles.