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PNG Cabinet cut by hall
PORT MORESBY,
Thursday (AAP). - The
Chief Minister of Papua
New Guinea, Mr Som
are, cut his 19-man
Cabinet by half today in
an administrative move
designed to spread the
decision-making load
previously carried by
senior ministers.
The changes, announced
in Port Moresby, create a
new streamlined Cabinet
of senior ministers and a
general-business committee.
of junior ministers.
"The arrangements are
intended to allow ministers
more time to consider
policy issues, and to en
sure that all ministers have
the oppoituniy to play a
full role in decision
making"! Mr Somaresaid.
In effect, political
sources in Port Moresby
said Mr Somare had estab
lished an inner Cabinet
and a review body charged
with making minor deci
sions and recommending
other matters for final
. consideration by senior
ministers.
By unburdening Calbinet
of the minor tasks, Mr So
mare said, the whole pro
cess of decision-wiaking
would be speeded up.
The new arrangements,
he said, had evolved from
an assessment of Cabinet
procedures over the past
two years of government
and were designed to suit
the political circumstances
that had developed since
the Government came to
power.
Cabinet now comprises
Mr Somare (Chief Minis
ter and chairman), Dr
John Guise (Agriculture
Minister and deputy chair
man), Mr Julius Chan
(Finance, Mr Thomas Ka
vali (lands), Mr Albert
Maori Kiki (defence,
foreign relations and
trade), Sir Paul Lapun
(mines and energy), Mr
Ebia Olewale (commerce),
Mr Gavera Rea (national
development), Mr Iamba
key Okuk (transport and
civil aviation), Mr Bruce
Jephcott (natural re
sources).
The Justice portfolio,
formerly held by the dis
missed Government rebel
Mr John Kaputin, has
been taken over temporar
ily by Mr Somare.
$