By COURTNEY MIRUPASI
DEPUTY Secretary for Corporate & Regulatory Services at the Department of Community Development and Religion, Jerry Ubase, has been elevated to take up the Department’s Acting Secretary role.
His acting appointment follows Mrs Anna Bais’s resignation as Secretary of the Department last Month to contest the Moresby North-West by-election.
Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development, Wake Goi, officially announced his appointment last Thursday in the presence of senior management and staff of the department.
Minister Goi said Mr Ubase’s appointment was done by the National Executive Council (NEC) on February 3, 2021 through the process of the acting appointment.
“His acting appointment was then gazette on the 10th of February, 2021 by Governor General Sir Bob Dadae,” Wake said.
He urged the senior management and staff of the department to continue to give their undivided support to Mr Ubase as acting Secretary for the department to ensure stability and continuation of the department’s programs and activities for the benefit of the people of this country.
In his maiden address to the media, Mr Ubase firstly thanked God for giving him the opportunity to take up the acting secretary role.
He also thanked Prime Minister James Marape and Minister Goi for having confidence in him to lead the department going forward.
Mr Ubase said he is not new to the department and promised to do his best to ensure the department remains stabilized during this time of change.
He urged the senior management and the staff of the department to work with him, regardless of issues and differences that may have arose during the transition.
“We are here to serve the people and the department must continue to work and grow,” the acting secretary said.
Also present to witness the announcement were the three Ministerial Agency Heads of the department; National Youth Development Authority, National Censorship Office and National Office for Child and Family Services.
The three Agency Heads congratulated Mr. Ubase’s appointment and pledged to give their undivided support by working closely with him to ensure services reach the people.
It is understood Mr Ubase will be acting in this position for a period of three months until such time when NEC meets to make a permanent appointment once the position is advertised.
Meanwhile, Minister Goi and the Acting Secretary jointly expressed their gratitude and thanked former Secretary, Mrs Anna Bais for her leadership as the department head for the past eight years and her contribution to the department, the Public Service and the country as a whole.
