DEPUTY Prime Minister (DPM) John Maneniaru and Minister for Education and Human Resources John Dean Kuku were sacked while the Minister for Police Lanelle Tanangada has resigned as effects of China switch continues.
Maneniaru is also the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources and is the Parliamentary Wing Leader for KADERE Party in the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA)
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare continues to demonstrate his powers under the constitution to fire his ministers beginning last week.
This means that those five members of parliament that abstained during the China switch voting have been punished.
The Minister for Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs Samuel Manatoali was also confirmed to be in the Prime Minister’s axing list.
Last week former ministers Rick Hou and Dr Tautai Angikimua Tautai were also terminated .
Maneniaru yesterday confirmed that he received his letter but chose not to further comment in the media when he was asked to be interviewed in his office.
His Executive Personal Secretary told this paper that he will take his time to respond to his sacking.
“I will have to settle some ministerial matters at the moment,” he told this paper through his EPS yesterday.
Lanelle was also chosen not to spoke to this paper about her resignation yesterday.
Meanwhile, Kuku told this paper that he accepted and respect the decision yesterday.
“If you look at the trend of the sacking of government ministers it is to do with our decision to abstain from the Caucus vote over the Chinese switch,” he said.
He further added that there are other issues to talk about regarding his termination but he will do that later.
When this paper contacted him yesterday he was busy packing to vacate his ministerial office.
By ANDREW FANASIA
