O'Neill has received the full backing of the PNC-led caucus in his sacking of several Ministers, including Duma and Polye.
"The 49 parliamentary members of the leading People’s National Congress Party have thrown their support behind party leader and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on his recent decision to sack two coalition party leaders.The PNC party caucus held its meeting in Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon which was attended by all Parliamentary wing members, most of whom travelled from their respective electorates.PNC Party members are pushing to get the vacant Treasury Ministry but the Prime Minister wanted to consult the Triumph Heritage Party and United Resource Party before making a decision. The Prime Minister assured the members that he would make an announcement this week.It is understood that the PNC is pushing for the Treasury Ministry and by getting that portfolio would mean that the ruling coalition leader will be keeping key economic ministries of Finance, National Planning, and key sector portfolios of Works, Petroleum and Energy, Health, Police, Education, and Commerce and Industry.The Treasury and Labour and Industrial ministries are vacant after the sacking of THE Party leader Don Polye and his deputy for Southern region and Kikori MP Mark Maipakai. URP leader and Hagen MP William Duma were sacked in an earlier cabinet reshuffle.The Prime Minister said the key coalition leaders were sacked because they were causing instability in government.Political observers said the Prime Minister, who is from Ialibu-Pangia in Southern Highlands Province, has made some sort of political history by sacking two respected highlands party leaders.The meeting on Sunday was attended by ministers including James Marape, Michael Malabag, Nixon Duban, Charles Abel, Richard Maru, Francis Awesa, Paul Ezekiel, Boka Kondra, Steven Davies, William Powi, Ereman ToBaining Jr, Aide Ganasi, and parliamentary backbenchers."