PM changes Cabinet line-up

The National Main Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
TAMBUL-NEBILYER MP Win Bakri Daki is the new Defence Minister in changes to Cabinet announced by Prime Minister James Marape, who wants the Government “functioning right through” the general election.
“With the elections coming up soon, I will be at work to assist ministers do their work so the executive government is functioning right through the election period,” Marape said.
Other changes include:

  • BULOLO MP Sam Basil returning as Deputy Prime Minister and takes over the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, after being cleared of charges in a Leadership Tribunal;
  • GOILALA MP William Samb moving from Transport and Infrastructure to Commerce and Industry;
  • TELEFOMIN MP Solan Mirisim moves from Defence to Forestry, after being cleared of charges in a Leadership Tribunal;
  • NAMATANAI MP Walter Schnaubelt moves from Forestry to Civil Aviation;
  • SOUTH Fly MP Seki Agisa from Civil Aviation to Correctional Services; and,
  •  DAKI from Correctional Services to Defence.

Marape made the changes in before the Issue of Writs on April 28.
He told The National earlier that any Cabinet reshuffle would be to ensure “that with the elections coming up, we need the Government to be functional”.
“The changes would only be made to strengthen the Government going into the general election.” He said this was to give ministers an opportunity to try out other portfolios.
The National Executive Council will have its first meeting of 2022 tomorrow.
Samb, last night, said it was the prerogative of the prime minister to make changes to his Cabinet line-up.
Mirism said he was happy with the decision by Marape. The other ministers could not be reached for comment.