Lelang takes over from Ling-Stuckey as Treasurer

Prime Minister James Marape has announced a cabinet reshuffle, ahead of the 2027 National Budget, and the 2027 National Election.

Mr Marape in a statement released this afternoon says that he has appointed Joseph Lelang as the new Treasury Minister and moved Ian Ling Stuckey to the Ministry of Rural and Economic Development.

The Prime Minister says Mr Lelang’s appointment as Treasurer is a positive move, citing his background as an economist and his previous experience as head of the National Planning Department during his career in the public service

He said that this will relieve Mr. Ling Stuckey of the heavy pressures of Treasury, thus giving him more time to focus on his health, family and his people of Kavieng District.

Mr. Marape also says that Mr. Lelang’s immediate tasks will be to end borrowing of new loans, boost foreign direct investments into new resource projects, undertake a tax reforms, and strengthen Treasury’s role.

Mr. Ling Stuckey’s roles will see him oversee rural development strategies, economic modelling, price control, National Economic and Fiscal Commission, and labour mobility programmes.

Prime Minister Marape also adds that the country’s economy, grew from 79 billion kina to 160 billion kina under Ian Ling Stuckey’s watch over seven years, beginning in 2019.