PM names 33-member cabinet

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By GYNNIE KERO and REBECCA KUKU
PRIME Minister James Marape has maintained his 33-member cabinet but made changes and created new portfolios aimed at ensuring that his vision for Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s socio-economic growth is realised.
The new portfolios are Oil Palm, Coffee and International Trade and Investment, while Petroleum and Energy have been merged as one – Petroleum and Energy. Police and Correctional Services are now under Internal Security.
Marape has also retained 23 incumbent ministers and appointed nine new ones.
He said the cabinet was structured to meet Government policies and goals.
“No woman was appointed but the two elected women MPs stand ready to support the Government,” he said, urging Papua New Guineans to stop making gender a big political issue.
Marape said: “All MPs are elected to represent everyone, including women.”
The new faces in the cabinet are: Richard Maru (International Trade & Investment – Yangoru-Saussia’s People First Party), Don Polye (Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology & Sports – Kandep’s Triumph Heritage Empowerment), Salio Waipo (Forest – Angoram’s National Alliance), Jason Peter (Community Development, Religion & Youth – Huon Gulf’s United Resources Party), Aiye Tambua (Agriculture – Goroka’s Pangu Pati), Francis Galia Maneke (Oil Palm – Nakanai’s Pangu Pati), Joe Kuli (Coffee – Anglimp-South Waghi’s United Resources Party), Sir Ano Pala (Mining – Rigo’s Pangu Pati) and Simon Kilepa (Environment, Conservation & Climate Change – Lufa’s United Resources Party).
Marape said the review of agency performances and achievements had enabled him to find the best appointments and that the review would now take on a more permanent feature in our ongoing responsibilities and performance.
“Last week we received much important information from Government agencies that helped to assess the performance of the last three years and determine new priorities for the next three to five years,” he added.
He said ministers would be given a set of key result areas and would be expected to work with their agencies to deliver results.
“My department is tasked to develop the key result areas for them,” he added.


All portfolios important: Marape

ALL ministerial portfolios are equally important, says Prime Minister James Marape.
He explained yesterday that no ministry was ranked higher than the other as all played important roles to secure internal security, grow the economy and serve the people.
He said all ministers and heads of departments would be required to achieve “key result areas”.
“All ministers will be given a set of key results areas and expected to work with their agencies to deliver (them),” he said.
Meanwhile, the ruling Pangu Pati was allocated 19 portfolios in the new cabinet after winning 38 seats in the 118-seat Parliament.