Secretary says commanders changed for national security

The National National
Newly-appointed Papua New Guinea Defence Force commander Maj-Gen Mark Goina (left) with Defence secretary John Akipe.

DEFENCE secretary John Akipe says the National Executive Council (NEC) promoted Maj-Gen Mark Goina as commander to maintain national security in the General Election 2022.
“The election will start in April when the Government’s power would return to people while the term of former commander Gilbert Toropo would expire in June, before the formation of a new Government.
“When the defence council realised that, it recommended to the NEC to make necessary changes in the interest of national security,” he said.
Akipe said the election writs would be issued in April and by June, everyone, including candidates and Members of Parliament would be campaigning in their respective electorates and provinces. Akipe said the council would be irresponsible if it did not advice NEC to trigger the change.
He said the council was responding to a notice given by the Personal Management Department secretary Taies Sansan to Toropo on Dec 13, informing him that his term would expire in June.
“This notice is the contractual obligations under the Public Service Management Act where a contract which had about six months left, a notice would be served to advice the holder on the due date of his term,” he said.
Goina said the Governor General had approved and gazetted the NEC decision to revoke the appointment of Toropo and promoted him to the rank of Maj-Gen and appointed him commander last month.