By DALCY LULUA
MINISTER for Defence and Nipa-Kutubu Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Billy Joseph has called for team efforts in the department to move forward.
“The Department of Defence is a big organisation, which besides the military, includes the National Fire Service, National Volunteer Service and the National Disaster Center and to move forward, it’s going to be a team effort.”
The official hand-over, take-over of the ministry was conducted last week Friday with a military parade to farewell the outgoing Minister Win Bakri and to receive Dr Joseph.
Dr Billy acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.
“I come from a medical background but I know how to manage things, I believe that we will carry on from where the outgoing minister has left and for that I will need the support from all the departmental heads,” he said.
“There’s a change in leadership and we still have a big task ahead of us.”
“The Defence Force has a national duty to protect PNG’s sovereign borders and that is our primary objective.
“We will need everybody’s assistance, especially from the leadership and government to make sure we are a force that everybody is proud of.
“I will rely on you all to advise me, and I will in turn advise the National Executive Council to make sure we do our jobs.”
Outgoing Minister Daki acknowledged the Marape Rosso Government for having the trust in him for the last two years.
He thanked the bilateral partners and departmental heads for their collaboration.
