1 week Ago By postcourieronline
OPPOSITON Leader Douglas Tomuriesa has criticised the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint new vice-ministers, and the intention of appointing more, without accounting for the work his existing ministers have produced thus far. “While our system of government allows for vice-ministers, these roles should be used when a certain minister or ministry genuinely needs extra support to carry the mandate of their duties, particularly in extenuating circumstances. “We know ministers have significant roles and responsibilities to carry out domestically and internationally, and can’t be in two places at once, so in this respect vice-ministers can perform such duties in lieu of ministers.
But, in this recent appointment, it appears MPs who have made switches to government, or who have remained loyal in the past few months were appointed vice-ministers, indicating that these appointments are to appease members instead of performance and results. “The PM and his 37 ministers are yet to produce any detailed reports of their work as ministers and what they have achieved and what they are planning for in the years to come. On top of this, I am sure the public would like to know what has come about in the six new ministries established.
” Mr Tomuriesa also reminded the Prime Minister that he made an undertaking mid this year to audit and assess key departments like Finance, Treasury and Works, but that grand announcement has gone cold. “Early this year when the PM announced a major cabinet reshuffle, he said he had high expectations for those ministers. More than 10 months later, where are the results and where are these so-called high expectations? “Given that we have a very bloated cabinet of 37 ministers, and we have more vice-ministers on the horizon, it appears that every member of this government is either a minister, vice-minister, assistant minister or a committee chair, yet we are seeing very little progress in our country.
“I challenge the PM and the vice-ministers to spell out clearly what their roles and responsibilities are, and what they hope to achieve before the end of the year, within the next seven days. PNG does not have the luxury to keep paying for more positions of power without tangible results. We must be cautiously prudent in the management of our country, not recklessly confident.
“Additionally, any decent manager or leader in any organisation knows that introducing more workers does not equal results. As the saying goes: ‘Too many cooks spoil the soup’. “Quality over quantity should always be the goal in public service, so the fact that the PM believes giving MPs more positions of power is going to help the country just goes to show his incompetence in basic management,” said Mr Tomuriesa.
Regarding the move of Bulolo MP and ULP party leader Hon. Sam Basil Jnr to government, and his appointment as Vice Minister for Mining and Sports, Mr Tomuriesa said: “We acknowledge Mr Basil’s move and congratulate him on his new role. “We appreciate his time spent in the Opposition for the past nine months, and his efforts towards what we believe is a good cause.
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