People’s Alliance's leadership cracks down on absent ministers

People’s Alliance party (PAP) president Ratu Josefa Dimuri has forewarned their Cabinet ministers that failing to commit to the party could affect their selection to contest in the next general election.

Ratu Josefa did not mince his words when speaking to this masthead yesterday on the failure of some Cabinet ministers to attend the party’s functions and annual general meetings.

“If the party leader can be showing up at all these party functions and meetings, who are these ministers not to attend,” he said.

“The Prime Minister can be showing up and committing himself, and these people are not showing up, they can forget about contesting the next election under the PAP banner.”

Ratu Josefa declined to reveal any names but said the absence of some of their ministers from party engagements had become noticeable among the party executives.

Ratu Josefa declined to reveal any names but said the absence of some of their ministers from party engagements had become noticeable among the party executives.

“They should regard this party as important to them because this party got them in there.”

Ratu Josefa said those ministers failed to be present in three AGMs he had attended, raising concerns about their commitment to the party.

“We know who they are. I know some of them may be overseas, but some we know who are here are not attending.”

Pressed on why these ministers fail to show, Ratu Josefa had no clear answer.

Instead, he said: “Some people when they get in there, they just do their own thing. This is the party that got them in. They owe it to this party.

“They should not be hoping to be getting tickets at the next election, that’s the only thing I can tell them.” Party support Ratu Josefa said he was confident in the party and the support it had, particularly in the fulfilment of some of its promises.

“We are confident that most of our supporters understand why we have not been able to do that because we have been speaking to them about the reasons.

“Making promises from outside is easy, but when you get into the house, then you know exactly what the extent of the problem is.” Ratu Josefa said differences in politics happened, but he remained steadfast in the party’s principles and philosophy.

“If people believe what is best for the country, then they will come.”