By Michelle Steven, EMTV News, Port Moresby
Minister for Defence and Member for Telefomin, Solan Mirisim, has announced that speculations on social media about him resigning his portfolio as Minister for Defence is not true. This announcement was made in relation to Member for Tari-Pori, James Marape, resigning as Finance Minister yesterday. The Defence Minister says he was surprised to hear the decision made by Mr Marape yesterday, but he respects his decision.
The minster made it clear that Mr Marape is still part of the Government and is still part of the People’s National Congress Party (PNC). Minister Mirisim says Mr Marape made these decisions on behalf of the people of his electorate. The minister also said that in order for him to resign as Minister for Defence, he has to seek consent from his family, his voters and his people.
Minister Mirisim says his electorate, Telefomin in Sandaun Province, is a very small area that hardly has any major development reaching it therefore he plans to stay with Government and carry on his ministerial position. In addition to the minister’s development plans for his electorate, he is planning to negotiate with Digicel who already has towers set up in the area to provide antennas so EMTV, as well as other TV stations can be available to the people.
