By Meriba Tulo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Another Senior Government Minister has resigned – Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Davis Steven, announcing his decision to step down from the National Executive Council (NEC). According to the Member for Esa’ala, his decision is based on the need to concentrate more on his electorate. He is the second Senior Government Minister to resign from cabinet within the last 7 days.
Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Davis Steven, called a media conference on April 18 to announce his decision to step down from his Ministerial duties. He is the second high-ranking Government Minister to resign within the space of seven days. According to Mr Steven, the decision to resign is to concentrate on delivering for his electorate of Esa’ala in Milne Bay Province, with Mr Steven alluding to recent natural disasters in his electorate that needed his undivided attention.
Mr Steven’s resignation comes exactly seven days (as of April 18) since former Finance Minister, James Marape, also resigned from his portfolio, citing issues of “lack of trust by the Prime Minister” as playing a part in his decision a week ago.
Mr Steven brushed aside assertions that similar sentiments had forced him to make this decision. Furthermore, Mr Steven also denied rumours that he would cross over to join the parliamentary Opposition. In response to the Attorney General’s resignation, Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, released a statement acknowledging the work of former Minister Steven – as Civil Aviation Minister in the last term of Parliament, and as Attorney General since 2017. In a statement, the Prime Minister said the former Attorney General had discussed with him the need for him to concentrate more on the Esa’ala electorate in the coming years.
According to the Prime Minister, the Esa’ala MP has the full Government’s support.
