PM picks two Opposition MPs in new-look Cabinet

Posted on The National

THE country’s eighth Prime Minister James Marape, pictured, made history on Friday when he included Opposition MPs Bryan Kramer (Madang) and Kerenga Kua (Sinasina-Yongomugl) in his 33-man Cabinet.
The announcement of Kramer as Police Minister during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House was greeted with a loud cheer – something never seen before at the governor-general’s official residence. Kramer is the Allegiance Party leader.
Kua, the National Party leader, is the Petroleum Minister.
Wabag MP Dr Lino Tom, an Independent, is the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources.
Marape’s Cabinet has 11 new faces, 10 of whom are first-time MPs. They are former West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel as the Minister for State Enterprise, Finschaffen MP Reinbo Paita as Minister for Communications and Energy, Telekom and PNG Power, Okapa MP Saki Soloma as Defence Minister, Jimi MP Wake Goi as Minister for Community Development, Sumkar MP Chris Nangoi as Minister for Correctional Services, Maprik MP John Simon as Minister for Agriculture, Lae MP John Rosso as Minister for Lands and Physical Planning, Wosera-Gawi MP Joseph Yopyyopy as Minister for Education, plus Tom and Kramer.
The ministers in the caretaker cabinet all retained their ministries except for Alotau MP Charles Abel who moves to Finance from Treasury and Bulolo MP Sam Basil to Treasury.
Justice Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven, the Esa’ala MP, is the new Deputy Prime Minister.
Marape said Steven would look after ministers responsible for social sectors.
“Our country can never be fully benefit from gains of resources if we don’t have an effective functioning social sector.” Marape said.
Pangu has 10 ministries, the People National Congress Party was allocated nine, Melanesian Alliance Party has four, People’s Party with three, Peoples Progress Party has two, Our Development Party also has two, and one each to THE Party, National Party and the Allegiance Party.

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