Dysfunction in cabinet, says Bird

EAST Sepik Governor Allan Bird has called on Internal Security Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr to resign and for Prime Minister James Marape to reshuffle Cabinet “as there is evident dysfunction within our executive branch”.
In a statement, Bird stated: “Minister Tsiamalili in his recent trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, took advantage of the privilege of representing the country as a minister, and instead used the opportunity to discuss the independence aspirations of Bougainville.
“The minister has also released a statement on his position on the path forward for the ratification of the referendum, which clearly depicts his conflicting political roles.”
Bird said while he appreciated Tsiamalili’s mandated position as the Regional Member, the representation of Papua New Guinea on a ministerial level should encompass putting the country first and provincial duties second.
Bird said as a minister of State, Tsiamalili “cannot be playing for two teams”.
“The obligation and expectation of our ministers is to represent the island of PNG, its people, and its sovereign national agenda, not secondary duties.
“It is completely inappropriate for Tsiamalili to pursue the independence of Bougainville, while occupying a chair in the country’s National Executive Council.” Bird said the only minister qualified to speak on these issues with relevance was the Bougainville affairs minister, and by extension, the prime minister.
Bird said he would be filing a formal complaint with the Ombudsman Commission to ascertain if Tsiamalili’s conduct amounted to an abandonment of his sovereign duties.
“Minister Tsiamalili should resign immediately if he cannot put the country first in his duties,” he said.
“He is better suited to progress his agenda as a Regional Member from the back bench with his colleagues like myself.”
Bird also urged Prime Minister Marape “to take heed of recent calls to reshuffle his cabinet as there is evident dysfunction within our executive branch”.
“We are yet to see an appointment for the foreign affairs minister, agriculture minister, and now the actions by Minister Tsiamalili demand a reshuffle to ensure our national agenda is in capable hands,” he said.
Bird also emphasised that he had consistently advocated for the people of Bougainville, and clarified that his concerns relating to Minister Tsiamalili’s conduct did not reflect his position on the substance of ongoing discussions.
Tsiamalili said he was misquoted on what he had said in New York.