Paita steps aside as PNG's National Planning and Monitoring Minister

PNG's National Planning and Monitoring Minister and Finchafen MP Rainbo Paita, has announced that he is stepping aside from his Ministerial portfolio indefinitely, as of today.

Mr. Paita in a statement, says that he is stepping aside to allow for an investigation to be carried out, after a video that went viral on social media and other mainstream media in which he was featured in firing a shot from a high powered gun.

He says that he personally wrote to the Prime Minister, requesting for him to step aside as Minister in order to allow to allow for a proper, free and unbiased investigation.

Mr. Paita also says that he has decided to learn the basic and safe rifle handling skills from his own Close Protection Officer, who is also a certified trainer, because his official vehicle was shot at by criminal elements around the Waigani area in September of this year.

The Finschafen MP also says that he has decided to learn the skills, so he can personally use the weapon to defend himself, in the event that his CPO is critically wounded.

He further adds that the video was shot during a private training session with his CPO in a private property, and never endangered anyone's life or property, but he is stepping aside to preserve the integrity of the office he occupies.

Mr. Paita has also used the occasion to apologize to the people of PNG, it's development partners, and his people of Finschafen for any embarrassment he may have caused, which he says were unintentional.

NBC News/One PNG News

Next: Sir Paulias was our Best Ambassadar abroad and At Home