PORT MORESBY (The National/PINA) — Campaigning for this month’s Papua New Guinea’s elections has intensified in the National Capital District with major political party rivals publicly denouncing each other.
People’s National Congress party leader and National Capital District MP Bill Skate seems to have thrown the first punch.
The former prime minister allegedly described Prime Minister Mekere Morauta’s People’s Democratic Movement Party as “People’s Devil Movement.” He urged voters to “Planim Devil Man (bury the devil).”
Addressing the Port Moresby Northwest Women’s Cultural Show, People’s Democratic Movement Party strongman and candidate Jamie Maxtone-Graham returned the favor. He lashed out at Skate as a “longlong man (unstable person).”
Morauta, who was the guest of honor at the show, joined in by calling on the 1,000-plus crowd not to elect a “giaman man (liar)” or an “evil man.”
He told the women that if they wanted him to be prime minister again, they should also vote Graham for the National Capital District regional seat.
Master of ceremony Maria Andrew had told the crowd that she was at a People’s National Congress rally where Skate allegedly gave People’s Democratic Movement Party the new names. Certain people had also allegedly referred to Morauta as “Micky Mouse.”
Graham said some politicians were all about dishing out money and alcohol for only a moment’s joy, and people wake up to the very same reality the next day.
He said people should think properly before casting their votes otherwise they would suffer for the next five years.
He also urged the people to forget about people who have become unstable from consuming alcohol and who do not have any policies or leadership.
