PNG: PM's new cabinet sworn in
Updated
Papua New Guinea's newly-re-elected prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, has just announced the shape of his next government. In a surprise move, he's replaced his current deputy prime minister, Don Polye, with Dr Puka Temu. Dr Temu is a member of the Southern Bloc of MPs representing the area of the country once known as Papua. Sir Michael has also substatially increased the size of cabinet.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speakers: Firmin Nanol
NANOL: Yes definitely Geraldine there's a big surprise that the deputy prime minister has gone to a person who has been quite unexpected in the public service, he's the most senior among all the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare's ruling National Alliance Party, and he's the deputy prime minister as well, it's Dr Puka Temu. So Papua New Guinea's deputy prime minister now is Dr Puka Temu, he has been sworn in by the Governor General Sir Paulias Matane as we speak as I'm talking from Government House where the official swearing-in ceremony of Sir Michael Somare's 28 member cabinet is being sworn in as we speak.
COUTTS: Now he's increased the size of his cabinet by how many and who got the jobs?
NANOL: Well that is not yet Geraldine, that will go through the floor of parliament and … members are going to vote to amend the constitution in order to cater for the increased number of ministerial portfolios. At the moment we've got about 28 and he's looking at increasing it to 37, 35 with some amendments to the minister's portfolios and amendments under his powers as the Prime Minister, under his Prime Minister's hat, because that's his prerogative.
COUTTS: One cabinet position which may turn out to be quite a controversial one is that of defence minister, who got that job?
NANOL: Geraldine that's one of the most important ministries in Papua New Guinea's cabinet as we speak. There's been a quiet change, before I go on to that one, one of the former PNG defence force soldiers who was involved in the Sandline crisis and the removal of the Sandline mercenaries, Belden Namah has been appointed as the Forestry Minister. But the defence minister is going to PNG's former deputy speaker, that's Bob Dadae; he's a member from PNG's Morobe province. So Sir Michael Somare has retained the ministry of prime minister and looking after the autonomous Bougainville government as well. But the defence minister's portfolio is a very important one that has gone to one of Sir Michael Somare's own party members, the National Alliance Party member.
COUTTS: Now Don Polye who has been replaced as deputy prime minister, did he get anything?
NANOL: Yes he's got the Works and Transport and Civil Aviation, that was the same ministry he was looking after when he was first elected into parliament in 2002, and he joined the National Alliance Party a minister up til the elections and he's holding it till now, but he's the major loser in terms of the key party ministries that they hold, he lost the most important deputy prime minister portfolio which PNG Highlands region were expecting would be given to him.
COUTTS: Any other surprises in today's swearing-in of Mr Somare's new cabinet?
NANOL: Well the other surprise is a report PNG's Foreign Affairs Minister Paul Tienstsen will retain his portfolio but that has been swapped with National Planning and District Development, and with ... getting the Public Service Minister from weeks before. And PNG's former opposition leader Peter O'Neill has been given the Commerce and Industry Minister or Trade and Industry Ministry, and Dr Allan Marat, who's a former lawyer as well is now the Minister for Justice. I think that suits him, he's got a legal background that is quite good. And Dame Carol Kidu has retained her Community Development, Women, Region and Sports Affairs Ministry that she was holding, and Arthur Somare has got his Public Enterprise Ministry back. And one independent candidate who joined Sir Michael Somare's National Alliance Party is one who unseated former Treasurer and Foreign Affairs minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu has been appointed as the Communication and Information Minister.
