THE LONGEST SERVING OPPOSITION MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: HON BELDEN NAMAH

Hon Belden Namah : Minister for Culture & Tourism

by David Lepi

PORT MORESBY

Thursday, 17th April 2025

Among some of the notable speeches and quotes from the Opposition the one that is still reverberating across the hallowed chambers after the vote of no confidence is the one by the Governor of West New Britain Province Hon Sasindran Muthuvel. He said, “To the MPs in Government, the Opposition is not a death sentence, nor should it be. “if you believe it is or you're told so by your colleagues, well therein lies the issue.”

We all know Sasi, as many close to our polyglot Governor affectionately call him, is a remarkable individual, but the quote he left before the VONC will strike many of the leaders in the Government who have gone against their conscience. Of course none of them can ever contest a seat in Tamil Nadu, India, and win but more so their poorly crafted moral compasses are screwed beyond repair that no artisan in the world can fix it.

Again, joining the Opposition is not a bad thing had weaponising DSIP/PSIP funds to intimidate Members in the Opposition never became a political tool.

The longest serving Opposition Leader in the political history of Papua New Guinea is the PNG Party Leader and Member for Vanimo Green Hon Belden Namah.

Come rain or shine Namah shone through the Opposition ranks for ten (10) good years. And a sizeable portion of these years as Opposition Leader.

Serving the Opposition for a full decade is like two 5-year parliamentary terms, a feat which of course the faint hearted wouldn’t dare to attempt, but the resilient Namah served with full honors and he did it for the love of his country.

Whenever the Parliament was silenced by the weight of grievous debate or brought to life by insightful interjections - the excitement was heard along Independence Drive and Waigani - the people knew their Opposition Leader was at work. Many thought Namah was cut for the job and will serve his country in the Opposition for the rest of material time in parliament.

Like everything Namah, he held whatever government that came to power accountable, transparent and true to the virtues of democracy. He made sure to scrutinize – closely examining – the work of the government, asked the government to explain its actions, especially during Question Time, he came well informed and debated bills – proposed laws – in the Parliament and effectively provided alternatives to government policies.

Honorable Belden Norman Namah entered Parliament in 2007 as a member of the National Alliance Party and became Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources in the Michael Somare-Puka Temu cabinet. In 2010, he resigned from the cabinet and joined Mekere Morauta and the Papua New Guinea Party.

Namah became part of the Opposition leading to the overthrow of the Somare government, and was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Forestry and National Resources in Peter O'Neill's cabinet during the 2011–2012. Retaining his seat in 2012, 2017 and 2022 elections, he lost his cabinet post after the 2012 election and was Opposition Leader from 2012 to 2014.

Since then Namah remained with the Opposition. In 2022, Namah announced he would leave the Opposition and join the government. In September 2022 he was appointed Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Parliament Committee.

Today he is a strong Member of the Marape-Rosso cabinet as Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture.

Happy Easter.

David Lepi