Treasurer demoted

By REBECCA KUKU
TREASURY Ian Ling-Stuckey was relegated to a vice-minister assisting, in a cabinet reshuffle announced yesterday by Prime Minister James Marape, which saw six new ministers sworn in.
Three ministerial portfolios were split and a new portfolio created which now increases Cabinet to 37 ministers from the previous 33.
Marape said he would take the Treasury Minister under his care as he looked into the affairs of the Treasury and Finance departments following the recent riots. Ling-Stuckey will become vice-minister assisting the Prime Minister.
Moresby-South MP Justin Tkatchenko (Social Democratic Party), who the PM stood aside last year following widespread public content over derogatory comments he made on Australian television, was yesterday given back the Foreign Affairs portfolio.
A new ministry called Key Constitutional Offices ministry will be charged with all constitutional offices, including the National Identification Programme (NID), Census Office, PNG Electoral Commission, Independent Commission against Corruption (Icac), Auditor-General, Ombudsman Commission and other constitutional office.
Second term Popondetta MP Richard Masere (Greens Party) has been charged as Minister of Key Constitutional Offices.
Esaála MP, Jimmy Maladina, is now Petroleum Minister while Kerenga Kua, who was previously the minister for Petroleum and Energy, keeps only the other half.
Nipa Kutubu MP Dr Billy Joseph is the new Defence Minister and Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Muguwa Dilu (Pangu Pati) will be Mining Minister.
Former Mining Minister Sir Ano Pala (Pangu Pati) is Minister for National Planning whilst Rainbo Paita (Pangu Pati) remains as Minister for Finance.
Marape said: “The Internal Security Ministry has also been split, Bougainville MP Peter Tsiamalili will remain Police Minister, and Joe Kuli will be the Correctional Service Minister, whilst Koroba-Kopiago MP William Bando (United Resources Party) will replace him as Coffee Minister.”
Marape said that Obura Wonenara MP, John Boito is Agriculture Minister following the voluntary resignation of Aiye Tambua (Pangu Pati). Tambua is fighting a court battle at the present time.
Marape welcomed the six new ministers of the cabinet saying that he was looking forward to working with young blood as he warned them that the task ahead was not an easy one.
“I call my Ministers at midnight, 1am, 2am to discuss work, be prepared, because the work is about to start,” he said.