Government Creates Three New Ministries

Three additional ministries will be implemented as part of the government's bottom up approach to service the rural population.

These additional ministries are the Ministry for Justice and Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Police and National Security and the Ministry of Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs.

The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs will be taken off the current Ministry of Police, National Security, Justice and Legal Affairs while the Ministry of Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs will take on the responsibility of Constituency Development from the Ministry of Provincial Government. An Indigenous Business Unit will also be established from the Ministry of Commerce.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare explained that the Ministry of Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs will be a small ministry which will supervise the activities of the 150 Constituency Development Officers currently under the Prime Minister's Office. The ministry will also manage and drive the government's "Bottom-Up Approach" development policy.

Mr. Sogavare said the re-arrangement will not require additional funding as the provisions are already appropriated in the 2007 Budget. He adds that all that is required is to vary the relevant heads under the existing budget when the portfolio subjects are approved for the new ministries.