Lawyer Charles Ashley has been appointed special secretary to the Prime Minister, the Sunday Star can reveal.
He was one of four political appointees the new Manasseh Sogavare government has made so far.
The appointments are yet to be formally announced but well-placed government insiders revealed four appointees have so far been made.
Ashley is the general secretary of Malaita Ma’asina Forum and a member of the forum’s political arm, People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
PPP contested the November 19 elections but won no seats.
The other appointments are:
· Former diplomat Bernard Bata’anisia, who will be director of the Political Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister
· Local businessman Martin Housanau, who will be deputy director Sectoral and Policy Monitoring Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister
· Chris Waiwori, Deputy Director, Fundamental Reforms Unit.
Our source said lawyer and former Attorney General Gabriel Suri is likely to be appointed to the Attorney General’s post.
He said other political appointments are yet to be finalised.
Meanwhile, sources questioned why PPP, which has not won a seat, had two of its members given political jobs.
Ashley and Housanau are both members of PPP.
Questions have also been raised over Malaita Ma’asina Forum’s watchdog role now that two of its members have been given political jobs.
BY EDDIE OSIFELO
