Transcript
BRYAN KRAMER: That's the policy that we the party collectively campaigned on. So for some of us maintaining that integrity and moral principle was more important to us than the convenience of being in government and having greater access to DSIP (District Service Improvement Programme) funds. The party leader, Sam Basil, said that the reason he went across (to government) was because he couldn't access DSIP. It's evidence of the fact that it (access to the funds) is actually being used as a political tool.
JOHNNY BLADES: He's talking about it as being a pragmatic move. He's been in opposition a long time. Maybe he simply is seeing that he could get more done for his constituents and for those of party members if they're in the government, for better or worse. Do you think there's some merit to that?
BK: Well, if you look at the election results, and most of those who were in government in the last government and held key ministerial positions, they all got voted out. So obviously that theory holds no water. So most go to government not for service delivery. They go for convenience. So if you campaigned on a policy of principle to fight corruption and fight the O'Neill government, then that's what you're supposed to stick to. If people got elected on a different policy - to just go in, become a member of parliament and just do your part for your electorate - then that's fine. Every member took a position when they campaigned. Some are upholding their policies, and others are back-flipping on their policies.
JB: The Pangu Pati had such great success at the polls, really, given where it came from. As you said, it had been a party in obscurity for a few years as well. How do you feel personally about how things panned out, and your relationship with Sam Basil and the others?
BK: Oh look, I mean at the time I was obviously disappointed, and I made my position known that our leadership will always be tested. At the end of the day, we're going to be judged on it. So I mean, everyone at the end of the day comes to a position where they have to make a decision, and they're eventually held accountable for the decision. Sometimes you've got to test the integrity and trust and loyalty of individual people, and circumstances in life will provide that testing
ground. They've now taken their position to go to the other side. There's still a lot to get done. I believe the party is bigger than any individual person. In terms of the country I think we need a party that people can have trust and hope in, and I think that's missing at the moment. Sam's decision to move, that's where it's created a lot of undercurrent of distrust now in the general public about who do they trust.
