Rosso now caretaker of Immigration and Labour

By REBECCA KUKU
DEPUTY Prime Minister John Rosso has been appointed as the caretaker Immigration and Labour minister.
Rosso, who is also Lands, Physical Planning and Urbanisation minister, was appointed following the suspension of Madang MP Bryan Kramer from official ministerial duties.
Prime Minister James Marape said Rosso would be the caretaker minister during Kramer’s leadership tribunal.
The tribunal was appointed by the Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi on Aug 16 under section 27 (7) (e) of the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.
The tribunal will determine the 14 allegations of misconduct in office filed against Kramer by the Ombudsman Commission.
Three allegations relate to social media publications purportedly scandalising the judiciary — namely the conduct of Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika — in suggesting a conflict of interest.
Other allegations against Kramer relate to decisions made by the Madang district development authority to establish its own company, Madang District Works and Equipment Ltd and Madang Ward Project Ltd.
This would implement the DDA’s own development programmes by funding the wards to construct their own classrooms, aid posts and repair town roads that had failed to be maintained by successive administrations.
It is alleged that Kramer misappropriated K30.6 million of services improvement funds to a company owned by a member of the development authority.