Changes to Cabinet

The National Main Stories

By DALE LUMA, GYNNIE KERO and CHARLES MOI
PRIME Minister James Marape yesterday changed the portfolios of three Cabinet ministers, appointed two MPs to fill vacant positions, saying the changes are needed before the issue of writs on April 28.
“We thought a rotation of those key ministries at this time are very important leading up to the election period,” he said.
The three changes are:

  • BRYAN Kramer moved from Justice to Immigration and Border Security;
  • PILA Niningi moved from Inter-government Relations to Justice;
  • WESTLEY Nukundj moved from Immigration and Border Security to Inter-Government Relations.

The two new ministers are:

  • HENRY Amuli replacing the late William Samb as Commerce and Industry minister; and,
  • POGIO Ghate replacing Wera Mori (who has left the Pangu Pati) as Environment Conservation and Climate Change Minister.

Marape said it had nothing to do with a lack of performance.
“All three of them (Kramer, Niningi, Nukundj) have performed very well in these key sectors but I felt that those sectors in the election period need to have a little bit of change,” Marape said.
On the need to replace Mori, Marape said he was told by his Pangu Party council and caucus “(who) I work with and take instructions from” that Mori be relinquished from his portfolio.
“I had the sad task of asking (Mori) to be decommissioned from Cabinet,” he said.
“He left Pangu to be the leader of the Country Party.
“The portfolio was conferred to him as a member of the Pangu party. (It) needs to come back to a Pangu party member.”
On why the changes were needed close to the general election, Marape said “the executive government functions all the way until the writs are returned. And that’s a few months down the line”.
Commenting on Marape’s move, Ialibu-Pangia MP and former prime minister Peter O’Neill said it was a sign that the Government did not have control of the country’s affairs “and is now panicking because elections are around the corner”.
“In 15 days (issue of writs on April 28), the Government will be in a caretaker arrangement and cannot make any decisions on government business,” O’Neill said.
“This is unbecoming of a prime minister who is seriously not fit to run our country.
“Moving ministers around is merely to approve certain deals and payments which he could not get it done with certain ministers.”
Opposition Leader Belden Namah called the 11th hour reshuffle unbelievable.
“It’s unbelievable coming on the eve of the elections.
“It’s just crazy. I see no benefit to the country.”