Wale question Tovosia’s role as acting PM

Leader of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale has questioned why the Minister of Fisheries & Marine Resources has assumed the role of  acting Prime Minister.

The Opposition Office understands that both the Prime Minister and the deputy Prime Minister are out of the country.

According to the Cabinet handbook and protocols, in the absence of both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, the Finance Minister should be acting Prime Minister and in his absence the Planning Minister should be next in line.

“The first issue is why both the PM and DPM are out of the country at the same time. Surely, they can coordinate their overseas travel to ensure one of them is always in the country when the other is out,” he said. 

The Opposition Leader said secondly there is a mistrust  relating to the PM’s trust in the protocol set in the Cabinet handbook. 

“Perhaps, more to the point is the lack of trust the PM clearly has in his Minister of Finance and Minister for Planning as the two next in line to assume the responsibility,” he said.

Hon. Wale questions whether the acting PM appointment was done legally.

The Opposition Leader said he is aware of the current tensions in GNUT as reported by the media, but says these should not be the basis for departure from agreed protocol as stated in the Cabinet handbook. 

He said the country continues to suffer from poor decision making within GNUT.

“Is the PM simply too weak to resist the Minister of Fisheries, and therefore allows him too much power and influence within GNUT? It is not a good situation at all for the country,” he said.

Hon Wale calls on the PM to explain this erratic decision and why the Cabinet handbook was ignored in this matter.

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Office of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament