Leaders Party a growing party

None of the seven members of the Leaders Party grouping in the Parliament of Vanuatu signed the recent motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai.

This was revealed by the Leader of the Leaders Party, Jotham Napat, the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, during last weekend’s ceremony at North Efate to formally accept Efate Rural Independent MP Jerry Kanas into the LP fold.

“When the motion was going, both Minister Matai Seremiah (Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biodiversity) and myself went and saw the Prime Minister and surrendered our portfolios to him to use to hold his government together and allow us go and sit in the back benches,” he said.

“Why, did we do this, because we believed very strongly that when there is stability in government, this country will continue to progress,” he added.

“Everyone thought MP Jerry Kanas would sign the motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Charlot Salwai. But he didn’t. All members of LP didn’t sign. The assurance and the undertaking we gave the Prime Minister was that our group would not sign any motion against him.”

The Leaders Party is a growing party throughout the nation because of the leadership quality it is displaying, Mr. Napat continued. And that since its formation on December 12, 2015, the party is now established in all the 83 inhabited islands in Vanuatu.

“Now it is moving into communities. And I believe strongly that LP is the party that will produce the most impact in 2020,” the Interim President of the party suggested.

Unlike most political parties in the country, one of the things the party is embarking on is a succession planning. “It is not good to serve until you’re old, that is a selfish attitude,” Mr. Napat added.

“Provide leadership, train and coach younger generation to come and take over. Because at that level there is energy in abundance to work and take this ship to the next level, we will not argue as to who should be the leader.”

“As of today I am still Interim President of the Leaders Party. And in the Leaders Party, it is not the President who will become the Prime Minister. In LP we all sit down with all leaders and see who among us has the caliber and can lead us, that will be the person who we will ask to go and represent us.

“It not good to fight/argue for your stomach and when you join the LP, your stomach will not lead you, but your motivation will be the people. You must strive to help the people, regardless of denomination, regardless of affiliation. It is your duty to ensure development reaches everyone,” he advised his new member of the party.

He encouraged MP Kanas, who is also the 3rd Deputy Speaker of Parliament to work to ensure development he help provide go to everyone in the community including those from all other parties saying it is his duty to do this.

“This party will grow and grow as long as we provide the leadership the people will come. I want to conclude by saying I think it is time for the young to come with new mind set, new strength, new vision, and integrate these with the old ideas to help the progress of the country and the people.”

He warned that the event witnessed on Saturday could even cause a split in the government. But he said that if everyone showed true leadership regardless of what was happening, it should not be a problem.

“Some people have selfish ideas and they will do everything to stop the LP, that is their right, but I believe strongly that the team I am leading today is a very good team. Hon. Matati comes with a lot of private sector experience, I come from the public sector background, Hon. Ian Wilson a mixture of private and public, and when all combine we go a long way.”