Meeting to confirm NA leadership

THE National Alliance (NA) party has clarified that Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt’s appointment as party leader will be confirmed at a national convention in November.
Party president Stephen Pokawin said: “The choices of the parliamentary wing (comprising the five party MPs) will now be submitted to the national convention in November to be affirmed.”
If the convention does not affirm Schnaubelt’s appointment, it will be referred back to the five MPs.
Schnaubelt was selected party leader during a meeting on Monday, replacing East Sepik Governor Allan Bird who was elected three weeks ago.
Bird and Angoram MP Salio Waipo both resigned from the party on Monday.
Bird said he would become an independent while Waipo said he planned to join the ruling Pangu Pati.
Pokawin said the meeting on Monday was called because the process in the selection of Bird last month was “not been completed as required”.
He said two of the five party MPs last week raised the question of the parliamentary leadership.
“Since it was a parliamentary wing matter, (it was) forwarded to the parliamentary leader,” he said.
“The president was requested to call a parliamentary wing meeting. Four out of five MPs attended,” he said. “A ballot was taken to select the parliamentary leader.”
He said two ballot papers had Schnaubelt’s name or initials. The other two ballots had the word “abstained.”
Bird said “no one should stay in a place where they are disliked or not wanted”.
“I joined the NA because of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Arthur Somare, Patrick Pruaitch, Sir Arnold Amet, Prof Baloiloi and Robert Igara,” Bird said.
“All of them I respect no longer hold official positions in the NA. That makes me a stranger in that house.”
Bird said it was “time to go”.
“In my culture, you don’t fight for leadership. You don’t chase it. It is given to you,” he said.
“If you are not wanted, keep your peace and leave.
“Waipo and I had struggled in the NA for some time. So yesterday (Monday) had to happen the way it did. Sometimes you have to burn your bridges.
“I already have a leadership role in the greater Sepik region, in East Sepik and in Parliament.
“I don’t have to chase new roles.”