The new minister for the Ministry of Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs was sworn in this afternoon by the Governor General, Sir Nathaniel Waena.
The minister, Hon Clement Kengava, MP for North West Choiseul, now heads the twenty-second (22) ministry of the Manasseh Sogavare-led Grand Coalition for Change Government (GCCG).Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr Rence Sore, said the new Ministry will play a crucial role in coordinating the government's bottom-up approach on rural development.
He said the Ministry will be the vital link in coordinating the functions of the Constitutional Development Offices, NGO's and other stakeholders in ensuring the government's rural development policies are being implemented.
Mr Sore also confirmed that the new Permanent Secretary for the new Ministry is Dr Judson Leafasia, former Chief of Staff of the Political Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister.