Major changes forecast for PNG ministry

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, is expected to undertake a major reshuffle of his Ministry after independence celebrations next Tuesday. The PNG Post-Courier reports today that it was given a list of names purporting to be the new Ministry.

The newspaper says that one of the more startling changes proposed is the elevation of Namatanai MP Byron Chan - son of key Opposition figure, Sir Julius Chan - as Education Minister. Ministers who stand to lose their portfolios include Housing Minister Andrew Kumbakor, Commerce and Industry Minister Gabriel Kapris and Correctional Service Minister Tony Aimo.

The list suggests that the People’s Party, Rural Development Party and People’s Progress Party will join the Government coalition. But Transport Minister Don Polye savaged the list as the work of people trying to destabilise the Government. “This is a lot of rubbish and hogwash and could be a deliberate attempt to destabilise the Government of the day.”