Views differ on Somare getting Finance and Treasury

THE appointment of Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare as acting Finance and Treasury Minister has received mixed reaction from the political divide.
The opposition described it as “risky and dangerous” to concentrate power in one minister, and suggested Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu should be given the job.
Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta said: “I recommend Sir Puka be the Finance and Treasury Minister.
“What has Somare got that other members in government benches do not have? Why is he special to deserve all the glory and power?” Sir Mekere asked in a statement.
He said that Somare was already a powerful minister, who is responsible for the Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC), which is the holder of the government’s shareholding in Bank South Pacific, Oil Search Ltd, PNG LNG project, Telikom PNG, PNG Power and PNG Ports Corporation.
“These entities are worth billions of kina. Dividends worth over hundreds of millions of kina are already flowing to IPBC and Somare. Isn’t that enough money to look after?” he asked.
But Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru, who has forged a close working relationship with Somare, supported his appointment.
Agiru said Somare was well qualified and a hard working minister who deserved to be appointed at this time.
“No minister works as hard as he does. He is also the most senior Member of Parliament in the National Alliance party after the prime minister. Just because his surname is Somare should not disqualify him,” Agiru said.
Agiru and Somare worked closely to get the PNG LNG project to a position where final investment decision was possible.
Their successful handling of landowners’ issues leading to the signing of the benefit sharing agreement convinced developer ExxonMobil and global financiers to go ahead with the massive project.