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By HARLYNE JOKU
OPPOSITION leader in the last Parliament Peter O’Neill and new People’s
Democratic Movement party leader Michael Ogio were the big winners in
the temporary cabinet announced by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare
yesterday.
Mr O’Neill was part of Sir Michael’s government when it was formed in
2002, but was sacked and banished to the Opposition after his People’s
National Congress Party was accused of being part of a plot to remove
Sir Michael as prime minister.
Although he took on the Government on many issues, Mr O’Neill was
accused of leading a “soft” Opposition.
He campaigned as a partner of NA, and was rewarded after flying to
Kokopo to sign the Warangoi Accord.
PDM’s leader Paias Wingti went all out against NA during the elections,
but he failed to return his seat.
Mr Wingti sent those elected to Kokopo, and the move came up trumps for
Mr Ogio, who lost his North Bougainville seat in 2002 but regained it in
this election.
Those who were disappointed were People’s Party and Rural Development
Party, but this was only the caretaker cabinet and they could be
considered when the full cabinet is announced next month.
Aitape-Lumi MP Patrick Pruaitch landed the plum Finance and Treasury and
Forestry ministries.
Sir Michael said the caretaker Government would look after the country’s
affairs until Sept 18 when a full ministry will be announced at the
first full session of the Eighth Parliament.
The caretaker Government is made up of 10 of Sir Michael’s coalition
partner leaders and five of National Alliance Party members.
They are the leader of People’s Action Party Gabriel Kapris as the
Minister for Transport
and Civil Aviation, Defence and Fisheries;
Leader of the United Resource Party William Duma as Minister for
Petroleum and Energy, Environment and Conservation and Justice and
Attorney General;
Pangu Pati leader Andrew Kumbakor is Minister for Education, Housing and
Urban Development and Inter Government Relations;
Mr O’Neill as the Minister for Trade and Industry and Higher Education,
Research and Science and Technology;
Mr Ogio as Minister for Correctional Services, Community Development,
Health and Mining;
Don Polye as MInister for Works, Public Service, Culture and Tourism;
Dr Puka Temu as Minister for Lands and Physical Planning, Education,
Labour and Industrial Relations and Internal Security;
Pruaitch as Minister for Treasury and Finance and Forestry;
Paul Tiensten as Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Foreign Affairs
and Immigrations and Bougainville Affairs; and Arthur Somare for
National Planning and Rural Development and Public Enterprise,
Communication and Development Corporation.
 
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