Dr Dakulala replaces Kase

HEALTH Minister Elias Kapavore says Dr Paison Dakulala will be the caretaker Health secretary.
The appointment of Dakulala comes after Prime Minister James Marape told reporters on Monday that former Health secretary Pascoe Kase had been asked to vacate his office so an investigation could be carried out into the department to ascertain issues raised by the National Doctors Association (NDA) recently.
He said when he met with NDA to receive its petition, they agreed that he appoint one investigator, the health minister appoint one and NDA one.
Yesterday Kapavore said: “The decision to hire, suspend and terminate departmental heads are done by the Head of State or the governor-general on advice from the National Executive Council.”
“The committee upon seeing the documents will then make recommendations to the prime minister. It will be discussed in NEC for an appropriate recommendation to the Head of State.
Kase ,when asked to respond to the decision by the prime minister, said: “I have served the public service all my life and I believe in our public service and the justice system.
“I’m just doing my job as a departmental head in managing my staff in a very challenging department. If unions see fit to interfere in my management and administrative decisions, then I don’t see how we can improve the public service. I welcome the team to meet me anytime.”