The Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement Government has appointed nine political appointees in the Prime Minister's Political Office.
The appointments were made on the 18th of January on the advice of the Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua, through the Public Service Commission.The new political appointees are: Bob Pollard as Special Secretary to Prime Minister, Ashley Whickam as the Head of the Policy Evaluation Unit, John Moffat Fugui as Secretary to Caucus, George Palua as Private Secretary to Prime Minister and George Atkin as the Press Secretary to Prime Minister.
The other four political appointees are Joseph Nielson, Ferrol Wilfred and Wilson Mamae, who are political analysts, while Silus Atu is the Chief Administration Officer dealing with the welfare of Ministers and Backbenchers.
The CNURA government retained only three of the 21 political appointees who served in the Prime Minister's Political Office.
They are Mr. Palua, Mr. Nielsen and Mr. Atu.
The Sikua-led government had fulfilled a commitment by making the appointment of the nine political appointees, when taking over the reign on December 21st last year, to reduce the size of the Prime Minister's Political Office.