In a formal hand overtake over ceremony yesterday morning, Friday 24th July 2026 at the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) office at Savanah Heights, Port Moresby, outgoing Minister for Environment and Conservation and member for Lufa District Simo Kilepa officially handed over the Ministry to the new Minister appointed Minister John Kaupa, member for Moresby Northeast.
The ceremony was witnessed by Acting Managing Director for Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) Ms. Debra Sungi and Managing Director for Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) Mr. Jude Tukuliya, other senior government officials, officers of CCDA and CEPA, officers of Moresby North East Office and the supporters of Mr. Kaupa.
Mr. Kilepa in his outgoing speech congratulated Mr. Kaupa on his appointment, describing Mr. Kaupa as a senior citizen with vast experience in Ministry portfolio being a former Minister for Housing and he comes with experience and can take the ministry forward in the next 8 months before the next General Election.
“I have full confidence in Kaupa, and I know he will deliver the outstanding matters that is left by me”.
Mr. Kilepa further thanks all CCDA and CEPA staff and executives who have worked with him for the last 4 years, also extending gratitude to the Marape-Rosso Government for the opportunity to serve as minister and also acknowledging his Party Leader(United Resource Party) William Duma for appointing him as one of the Ministers.
Kilepa added also that now that he is released from the duties as Minister, he will return home and focus on duties in his electorate.
Accepting the portfolio, Mr. Kaupa thanked the Prime Minister and the Marape-Rosso Government for the confidence placed on him to look after the ministry for the remaining months before the next General Election.
He thanked outgoing minister Mr. Kilepa for a job well done and promised to take on from where Kilepa left.
"I am here not to do anything new but to do what has been done and continue and move forward to see progress in the ministry," he said.
Mr. Kaupa added that most times when a new Minister takes office, everyone thinks that everything will change, however this will not be the case as all were urged to work together to deliver and focus on what needs to be done.
He also stressed the important role public servants play in any organisation to ensure continuity, stating that politicians come and go, Ministers change but managing directors, and officers are the bureaucrats and engineers of this organisation that keeps a ministry going.
With more Climate projects relying on donors and partners, Kaupa reminded the officers to maintain standards, accountability and to deliver at this crucial time when this planet is heading into Green Energy.
Kaupa called for a collaboration and unity in the ministry.
CEPA Managing Director Jude Tukuliya, expressed gratitude and farewell also to the outgoing Minister and acknowledged the new Minister while also highlighting several outstanding projects and expressed confidence that the new minister would provide the leadership needed to deliver them.
Also, CCDA Acting Managing Director Debra Sungi welcomed Minister Kaupa to his new role and into the ministry and pledged to work together with him, while she bid farewell to Mr. Kilepa as well as acknowledging the projects delivered and achievements achieved under Kilepa's leadership.
“Under the ministry and leadership of John Kaupa, under the leadership of Marape Rosso Government, we will continue on in the next 8months to see progress on what we have in our work plans in what we want to achieve by this year and also going into next year as well”.
“It will be a challenging time for the new minister noting that we have just almost 6 months before the issue of the writs, but we know and we trust that you will be supportive of us with the ministerial duties.”
Ms. Sungi highlighted further thank Kaupa for putting his hand up to tackle the actions for Climate Actions in the country.
“We are at the very crucial time of seeing the frequent natural disasters, but we hope and we know that with your leadership you will bring us forward in terms of achieving our preparedness efforts in the country and or mitigation efforts as well”.
