O’Neill sacks Don Polye and Mark Maipakai

O'neill sacks Polye 

Prime Minister Peter O'neill has sacked two senior Ministers in his government. THE party leader and Treasurer Don Polye has been dumped as of today. Labour and Industrial Relations Minister, Mark Maipakai from the same party was also sacked.

In the meantime, Mr O’Neill and his deputy prime minister, Leo Dion, have assumed the victims’ portfolios in Cabinet.

Mr O’Neill said Mr Polye was being removed because of him “causing instability in the Government’’.

“Mr Polye’s conduct as Minister for Treasury and a senior partner in the Government have been ongoing concerns for the Government,’’ he said.

“He occupies one of the key positions in the Government dealing directly with financial and economic management issues of the country and as such his conduct has a direct impact on the stability and confidence of the Government.

“The sacking of Polye has been done in the best interest of the Government and the country and this does not however affect the THE Party. The THE Party remains an integral member of this government,” the Prime Minister said.

“In any Westminster system of Government, all members including ministers in the Government are expected to work together cohesively to develop and implement Government policies. PNG is no different. By working as Government, public including international community confidence is achieved, which is a vital ingredient for our country’s development aspirations.

“This Government since coming into office after the 2012 general election has introduced a lot of innovative policies, aimed at improving the quality for life of our people – and any lack of solidarity dissents among our Coalition partners or individuals including ministers will defeat the stability, trust and confidence of our people and investors.

“I am not going to risk the economic opportunities for the people by allowing conducts of a few to derail our stability of the Government and its policies – which why I have decided to make this decision,” said Mr O’Neill.

“It wasn’t easy but for the good of our country, I have after consulting leaders in the Government, decided to decommission Hon Don Polye as Minister for Treasury.

“As regards the decommission of Hon. Mark Maipakai, as Minister for Labour and Industrial relations, it was done to preserve the integrity and public confidence of the Government after he was arrested and charged by police – which is before the National Court.

“As regards the Ministerial responsibilities; the Prime Minister will assume the Ministry of Treasury and Deputy Prime Minister GC Hon. Leo Dion will hold the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations until permanent appointments made after consultations with Coalition Leaders.’’  PNG Facts/PNG  Edge