MARU TO HEAD PNG POWER AS MINISTER

COINCIDING with the recent decommissioning of six government ministerial position yesterday, Prime Minister James Marape has also announced some other readjustment to government portfolios including the announcement of International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru to head PNG Power Ltd.

The Prime Minister when making the announcement said that PNG Power has a huge major problem and has costed the economy so much, pulling it out from other State owned Entity would allow focus for change and improvement.

The Prime Minister clarified that this change has nothing against the SOE Minister William Duma, who has done his absolute best in the ministry with 15 State owned Entities on his shoulder.

“PNG Power has quiet a huge problem, one minister to concentrate on PNG power. With Minister Maru’s raw and aggressive leadership, he will look into what has happened to the entity without fear or favour.”

PM Marape further clarified that, Kumul consolidated Holdings owns PNG Power, the operation structure comes under the Minister and Board, and Minister Maru will be overseing performance and turnaround on instructions and delivery on expectations.

He reiterated that Minister Duma maintains his portfolio as State Owned Enterprise Minister responsible for KCH and other state owned entities.

Among other changes, Prime Ministers assumes role as Minister for Correctional Service, Sports and National Volunteer, Dr Billy Joseph assumes the role as Health Minister while Dr Elias Kapavore takes on the Defence Ministry, Hon. Wake Goi assumes Commerce Ministry following suspension of Hon. Win Daki, Hon William Bando takes on as the Immigration Ministry and Hon Miki Kaeok as Coffee Minister.