Cabinet changes

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Marape: We need political stability, deliver government priorities
From left: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Sam Basil, Treasure Ian Ling-Stuckey, Prime Minister James Marape, Housing and Urban Development Minister Justin Tkatchenko, Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae, Forest Minister Solan Mirisim, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Arts Walter Schnaubelt, Police Minister Bryan Kramer, Finance Minister Rainbo Paito and Minister for Energy William Onglo at Government House in Port Moresby yesterday. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
PRIME Minister James Marape has made changes to his Cabinet 16 months after taking office, citing “the need for political stability and delivering key government priorities”.
Marape, the leader of the ruling Pangu Pati, stuck to his “three-to-one” ratio in allocating ministries to the major coalition partners – the National Alliance Party, United Resources Party and United Labour Party.
“This has been a key factor in my decision-making,” he said.
He also named Bulolo MP and National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil as Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Esa’ala MP Davis Steven who remains Attorney-General and Justice Minister.
He said the changes “will consolidate stability, enhance leadership at the political level to drive key policy priorities of the Government which capitalise on the skills and capabilities of individual ministers”.
“These changes draw on the substantial capabilities within our Government.
“They come at a critical time where our nation faces great challenges due to the Covid-19.
“These changes are necessary to ensure all coalition partners have members in cabinet.”
He congratulated ministers on their new roles.
“I have confidence that we have a team that will deliver effective policy outcomes and secure the future of our nation.”
Joining Cabinet for the first time are Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Willie Onglo as Minister for Energy and Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt as Minister for Culture, Arts and Tourism.
Marape takes over the Bougainville Affairs ministry from Sir Puka Temu saying it was appropriate during the critical stages of consultation on the next step of the Bougainville peace process that he took over.
“I am 100 per cent committed to finding a mutual beneficial solution to what is now taking place in their drive for independence,” he said.
“While maintaining the sanctity of the national union the highest autonomy, we would give them in practice of self-governance, into a time we mutually work into the future basically to reconstruct.
“We deal with Bougainville (so that) their intention to deal with self-governance is achieved, within the maintenance of our political boundaries as a united country but giving them respect to self-determination as a separate region in our country all under the constitution.”

28 comments

  • Jelta Wong did nothing whilst Health Minister because he knows nothing about it and now been dumped again into Civil Aviation. He’s a liability. Why keep posting him to Ministrial potfolios he’s not qualified for and lack experience and expertise in. Stunt!! He should be Minister for Food and Eating.

    • He’s time is up, he’s not coming back after 2022 General Election. It be best if he start doing some savings for his retirement.

  • Is Jelta Wong a party leader? He seems to be a most utility MP in the current term of parliament. Is there something we don’t know about him?

  • I think, Kerenga Kua is ok to retain this important ministerial portfolio in and during these times of hot talks and gossiping or even guessing around a lot for our national resources’ Acts of Parliament to be fine-turned and reshaped to suit our native PNGans’ needs and to nationally benefit well more from our minerals extraction than mere tax money with little land ownership royalties from foreign investors.

  • Is there something we don’t know thats brewing behind the scene apart from performance?

  • Vote of no confidence in November so Marape is trying to maintain the status quo. Marape’s days are numbered.

    • True that. Ever since he took the office, he’s been blah blah blah and have done nothing so far. He even took out what has been supporting the people, Tuition Fee Free policy set up by O’Neill government.

      Come next year people will struggle to pay for school fees for their children.

  • Why vote of no confidence? We lately conducted vote of vote of noconfident. Those power hungry leaders should remain clam and let Marabe and his regime take bake PNG in the hands of wild dogs. Our leaders should not fight for the foreigners who are confusing us.

  • Common people understand what is vote of no confidence and also sees when it is necessary. Members are blind to see as people see. Self interest is the cause of the blindness to our leaders. Despite driven by self, God is on the side of people or selfless leaders.

  • Marape is playing cheap politics. Trying to put into practice what he learned from his mentor/tutor, Hon. Peter O’Neill.

    Guess what, people knows it and your days are counting. You have suffered the people of this country through this Covid19 situations, people lost their jobs, school were disturbed and many people lost their ways of making an income. You did not even provide any back up plans to support the people. You are an immature Prime Minister ever to sit on that seat.

    Pray for forgiveness and if God willing, you may form the government after 2022 General Election. And make sure you make a clear win without blood stain on your hands.

  • When can we see a major and impact project launched and work commencing? This government has done time planning but we the people need service delivery.

  • Anyone recall in 2019 when Health Minister Sir P Temu said, “ALL is well with health service in PNG!”
    Why has he been given second chance back in Health again?

  • Marape has the right spirit and mindset to take back PNG by reviewing all our resources and mining laws. He just need to give ministries to the experience and qualified MPs.

    Jelta Wong has done nothing good at all and I don’t understand why PM is giving him another ministry? We have potential and vibrant leaders like the Oro governor & East Sepik governor if laws can be amended to have provincial governors taking ministerial portfolios.

  • All, We must know that Peter O steal was doing all his best to sell this Godly blessed golden island of PNG floating on the sea of oil and powered by gas too cheaply to foreigners for his own popularity and gain, This was not in the best interest of Marape so that’s why he broke the rank and file dumping PO.
    PMJM is now doing his best to TAKE BACK PNG for PNGeans. We must know this.

    • O’Neill never steals anything. There’s no proof of that, stop idealizing words that spewed from baseless assumptions and accusations. In fact, he is the greatest politician ever to be PM. He delivers and that is all that matters.

      Its been about a year and half since Marape took office. What has he been doing? Oh I know, TALKING!

    • Stern, or whatever you call yourself, this is a public forum so be careful of your language.

      You will surely find yourself in court sooner or later.

  • I always wonder how the Gay Gardener and Mrs. Yoga stay in power and keep being given positions in government. It must be all their stolen money from the APEC and the Pacific Games

  • I think Peter O’NELL is the best Prime Minister ever. He is a vibrant & energetic leader and he had delivered a lot compare to other prime Minister in past & Current. I wishes he takes the post as prime minister again.

  • PMJM, knows Sam Basil will make his move during VONC just like he did when he was in Pangu…..so he has to be second in command….PMJM, have to be careful of Sam Basil, if be betrayed his very own Momase Pangu brothers, he can do anything during VONC.

  • I think VONC is just around the corner for Marape is reshuffling the ministerial positions where this government was not mandated by the people of Papua New Guinea. The government that was mandated by the people of Papua new guinea was the PNC led government under Peter O’Neil. Which means the Party (PNC) won many seats in the 2017 general elections. Therefore, the question is, why is marape reshuffling some of the ministerial position.? There might be some intentions..

  • Marape’s days are numbered. He will be out come November. In his haste to change the mining laws and gain popularity through his dreamed up slogan of “taking back PNG”, he has done great damage to this country by closing down Porgera mine and passing on the SML to a dead government organization with no standing in the extractive industry. International investors are waiting for the outcome of Barrick’s attempts in court to overturn the stupid decision of this government all based on political grandstanding without a second thought on the ramifications of such blind decisions. Down with Marape!

  • I do not think reshuffling of Top positions like a deck of cards would not even stabilize the economy. It will further shake the entire system of government. It is so stupid to do just that. I don’t think it is good for the economy but for their own selfish gain come 2022. IS THAT HOW WE TAKE BACK PNG?

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