United Labour Party (ULP)

The story outlined that several MPs from the Momase region “have shown interest on different occasions” to fill up the top spot that was left vacant by the Late party founder and Bulolo MP, Sam Basil.

DPM Rosso categorically disputed the accuracy of the report, which named ULP general secretary, John Avira, as one of its sources.

Gure made these remarks after some Members of Parliament allegedly vying for the position as published in the media on Tuesday.
 
“I called the caucus meeting of the Parliamentary wing after the late Sam Basil's passing, where all the five current members attended. After putting all the issues and interest on the table and considering a bigger picture on mind, the elections.
 
“It was not a vote, but a conscious decision made by the five of us for me to be the leader of the Party. At this point in time, there is no vacancy in the leadership of the party.”

The party executives, in a meeting this morning in Port Moresby, made the announcement.

Gure’s appointment comes following the tragic passing of party founder and leader, and Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil. Basil, who was Member of Parliament for Wau/Bulolo, died in a vehicle accident along the Lae-Bulolo Highway last week. 

The body of the late DPM was flown into Port Moresby yesterday evening and lies in the funeral home.

A Lie in State ceremony will be held for him tomorrow, Tuesday 17^th May, 2022.

Odrian Yang handed over her financial support this morning at the ULP regional office in Lae.

Yang is from Koviak Village in Morobe’s Wau Rural LLG.

She owns and operates a PMV called “Wau Mountain Cruz”, owns a shop and an alluvial gold buying business.

Yang said many provinces have a party leader and a political party that they are proud of. In her case, she is throwing her support behind her local MP and United Labour Party leader, Sam Basil.

The Koviak entrepreneur has given K10,000 for the ULP Morobe branch and K20,000 for the national branch. 

Lekwa Gure, Deputy Party Leader of ULP and Member for Rigo Open, presented the party’s 16 policy statements in the third seminar facilitated by the PNG National Research Institute (PNG NRI) last Friday, 12^th of November.

ULP’s eighth policy statement states, “Responsible family planning based on PNG socioeconomics for population growth.”

MP Gure said the country’s population is growing at 3.1 percent, while the country’s economic growth is approximately 2.5 percent.