Titongoa reappointed as Health Minister

MEMBER of Parliament for Tongoa, Willie Ruben Abel, has been reinstated as Minister for Health, a month after he was sacked by Prime Minister Sato Kilman.

Ruben was sacked over his decision to renew the contract of an AusAID funded chief surgeon at the Vila Central Hospital.

During the swearing in ceremony, Prime Minister Kilman said Vanuatu has been faced with health service problems and he trusted MP Titongoa's ability to resolve many of those health service issues.

The Prime Minister also commented donor partners' much needed contribution in Vanuatu's health sector. He said Vanuatu need to ensure those services reach the vast population in the islands.

In another development, Prime Minister Kilman has reallocated the Air Vanuatu portfolio to the Infrastructure Minister, Harry Iauko.

When signing the instruments for the move this week, PM Kilman said Air Vanuatu too had gone through difficult times and has not yet got to the top of the problems but he believes Air Vanuatu services will eventually be on the top in Vanuatu's economic development.

Political observers in Port Vila believe Prime Minister Kilman's recent moves were made in order to maintain his grip on numbers, before the national parliament meets Thursday in its 2012 First Ordinary Session.
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