Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is expected to announce a major Cabinet reshuffle leading into the festive season and the 2022 National General Elections (NGE).
The reshuffle could see major changes with senior ministers reaching out to the Post-Courier expressing their concerns over a leaked interim list that even the Prime Minister’s office maintained it as speculation.
Concerned on the makeup of the reshuffle two well placed senior ministers provided the reshuffle list to the Post-Courier, even though it was still being kept under wraps.
Another senior government official said the reshuffle list was not supposed to be made public, even though it has already been shared on social media.
“This list is not supposed to go out, it’s still a work in progress,” the official who requested anonymity said. Adding validation to the move by Government.
According to the reshuffle list, the ruling Pangu Pati has retained most of the important ministries while a coalition partner could face the sack.
Other major parties such as the National Alliance may expect trade-offs within its ranks with key portfolios up for grabs.
United Resources Party and National Party are also earmarked to be in the crosshairs as well.
Other change include the portfolio previously held by the deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil will not be returned with him taking up the Ministry for Transport and Goilala MP William Samb touted to keep Commerce.
The mooted reshuffle list was distributed widely on social platforms.
Prime Minister James Marape, who is in Opposition Leader Belden Namah’s electorate of Vanimo-Green, could not be reached for comment.
He, however, announced several major projects worth close to a billion kina in West Sepik Province.
According to the government source, the distribution of ministries will follow a 1:3 ratio, that is, one minister to three MPs per coalition party.
All coalition partners will be well accommodated and the new line-up will be the final going into the NGE in 2022.
SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
