Marape defends appointment of Kua

National

By HELEN TARAWA
PRIME Minister James Marape has defended the appointment of Sinasina-Yongomugl MP Kerenga Kua from the Opposition benches as Petroleum Minister saying it is for the good of the country.
He said Kua shared a similar vision to him on resources.
“It’s a very important portfolio and I need a minister who share visions as I. He and me exchange similar lines in as far as the way we see resources in this country,” he said.
Marape said Kua was a lawyer by profession who had previously worked in that sector.
“I believe that his contribution (to that ministry) will be something only time will judge.”
He said Kua did not vote for him to be prime minister.
“But this is not about myself or being able to reciprocate goodness to someone who stood for me.
“In my view this is about rising for the country and taking the best men we have around.”
Kua said he had served in Cabinet before.
“It’s nothing new. I’ve been in there before. It’s good to have a broad spectrum of experience,” Kua said.
“When you are sitting in one part of Parliament and you understand how the other side functions then you are able to blend the two experiences together and hopefully you become wiser and make better decisions.” Kua said he would get to know the department and its staff, be briefed on what was happening and meet those in the industry to see how they were dealing with the State through the department.
“Once those basic understanding are established, we have to get down to the issues of policy reforms that are necessary to deliver the kind of outcomes Prime Minister James Marape is looking for and which the people want to see also.”