Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister and Kikori MP Soroi Eoe has been appointed as the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of Prime Minister James Marape who left the country today for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.

PM Marape made the announcement this morning before leaving with his entourage for the airport.

He said Mr Eoe is not new to the public service and was decided by the cabinet to take the role after Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil was suspended following his Leadership Tribunal.

“The cabinet has given blessing for the appointment of Hon. Soroi Eoe as the acting Prime Minister in the nine days that I will be absent from the country,” Mr Marape said.

“The Hon. Eoe is not new to leadership, he’s been a public service leader for 30 years before he became a politician and is now one of our senior ministers in the cabinet.”

PM Marape further urged the public service members and citizens to show support to Mr Eoe during this time.

Marape and his entourage depart for New York today via the Philippines.