Marabe is acting Sports Minister

EDUCATION Minister James Marabe will be acting as the State Minister assisting the Prime Minister on constitutional matters and the Minister responsible for Sports.
Marabe will be acting on these portfolios for at least three months following an attack on Sports Minister Philemon Embel last week in Poroma, Southern Highlands.
Philemon sustained a fractured leg bone following the attack.
He thanked Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare for accepting his recommendation for Marabe to act as State Minister assisting the Prime Minister on constitutional matters and Sports Minister.
Marabe thanked Philemon for having confidence in him by recommending him to act while he was away on sick leave.
“Sir Michael told me this morning that I was recommended for the acting position while Embel was on sick leave for two or three months.
“I sincerely thanked Mr Embel for the recommendation,” he said.
Marabe said he would do his best to continue where Embel had left and hoped to continue until he resumed his post as Minister for Sports.
On his first official engagement as Minister for Sports, Marabe congratulated Stanley Gene on his appointment as new PNG Kumul coach.
He commended the current PNG Rugby Football League administrators John Numapo and Garry Juffa for appointing Gene to the post.
Gene’s own sporting experience from the Gahuku off-season league to Goroka league, before making to the former SP Inter-City Cup and Kumuls and professional league in England, is truly a success story of climbing a huge mountain similar to Marcus Bai.
“I urged the nation to rally behind our new Kumul management team, coach and players as we prepare ourselves for the Prime Minister’s XIII this weekend and the Four Nation’s Cup,” he said.
He thanked former coach Adrian Lam who had supported rugby league and the PNG Kumuls.
“I want to thank you and wish you all the best and we look forward to your continuous support. To the Prime Ministers XIII team, you can do it just like Marcus Bai and Stanley Gene,” he said.
“Do it now and write history for your country, your family and for yourselves, Marabe added.