The return of former MPs in Papua New Guinea's 2017 elections

Chris Haiveta

By Solomon Puana
Elections in PNG are unpredictable in terms of MPsbeen unseated and returned in the elections. Fourteen former MPs have made a comeback after having left active national politics for some years. They are Member for Manus Open and the Speaker of Parliament – Hon. Job Pomat, Governor for Milne Bay Regional – Hon. Luke Critin, Member for Kavieng Open – Hon. Ian Ling Stucky, Member for Koroba-Kopiago Open and Minister for Immigration and Border Security – Hon. Petrus Thomas, Member for Moresby North-West Open and former Prime Minister – Hon. Sir Mekere Morauta, Member for Markham Open – Hon. Koni Iguan, Member for Menyamya Open – Hon. Thomas Pelika, Member for Naweab Open – Hon. Kennedy Wenge, Governor for Morobe Regional – Hon. Ginson Soanu, Governor for ENB Regional – Hon. Nakikus Konga, Member for Rai Coast Open – Hon Peter Sipai, Governor for Madang Regional – Hon. Peter Yama, Governor for Gulf Regional– Hon. Christopher Haiveta and finally Member for Mendi Open – Hon. Michael Nali.

The Speaker, Hon. Job Pomat lost the Manus Open seat to Ronny Knight in 2012, but unseated Mr. Knight in this completed recent election in 2017.

Hon. Luke Critin returned after losing the Milne Bay Regional seat to Titus Philemon in 2012.

Hon. Ian Ling Stucky made a comeback after 15 years losing the seat to Martin Aini in 2002. Mr Aini retained the seat in 2007, but lost to Ben Micah in 2012. In this election, Hon. Ian L. Stucky won the seat back.

Minister for Immigration and Border Security, Hon. Petrus Thomas has been out of national politics for 10 years and has successfully won the seat this election (2017).

Former Prime Minister and PNG Party Leader Hon. Sir Mekere Morauta retired from active national politics after the 2007 election but decided to make a comeback after 5 years and unseated Michael Malabag this election (2017).

Hon. Koni Iguan won the Markham Open seat back, after he had lost the seat to Paul Izikiel in 2012.

Hon. Thomas Pelika and Hon. Kennedy Wenge have won their seats back. Both have returned to active national politics after 15 years.

Hon. Ginson Soanu was the former member for Kawbum and lost his seat to Sir Bob Dadae. He came back contesting the Morobe Regional seat and won the seat after 15 years out of active politics.

Hon. Peter Sapia lost the Rai Coast Open seat in a by – election and was out of politics for some years. He successfully won the seat back this election.

Hon. Chris Haiveta has held the Gulf regional seat for three terms, then lost to Havila Kavo in 2007. He returned after 10 years and won the Gulf Regional seat this 2017 National Election.

Hon. Michael Nali lost the Mendi Open seat in 2007. He returned after 10 years and unseated Mr De Kewanu in this 2017 election.

More information at www.ippcc.gov.pg

Women candidates in Papua New Guinea's 2017 general elections

By Madeline Saga

The 2017 National Elections saw the largest number of women contesting in history of Papua New Guinea. A total of 167 women contested, the highest so far, an increase of 33 women from 134 from the 2012 Elections and 101 from 2007. This trend makes it obvious to note that we will see an ever increasing number of women contesting the next elections as more women become aware of political participation.

 

 Of the 167 women candidates, 106 of them contested as independents while 61 were party endorsed candidates. This clearly shows that over half of the total number of women candidates contested as independents. A number of reasons as to why this was the case would include, no form of resource support since first contact of a political party, parties did not seem to show an interest in the candidate, candidate just had no form of knowledge for what parties stood for and a candidate felt she did not need to be in association with a party as she had all her resources in place. However, the Registry of Political Parties and Candidates believe that any candidate whether male or female that contests under a political party has a greater chance of being placed in the top 5 final placing of the seat that he or she contests than an independent candidate. It is important to note that of the 110 declared seats 96 were won by candidates who contested under political parties while 14 candidates ran as independents. 

Despite there being a fair distribution of women candidates throughout the country as shown in the column graph above, not a single woman candidate was able to win a seat. However, the women who ran under parties fared much better by making it into the top 10. Those most notable include Dulciana Somare for East Sepik Regional, Rufina Peter for Central Regional, Delilah Gore for Sohe Open, Julie Soso for Eastern Highlands Regional and Iamo Launa for Rigo Open amongst a few of the 61 party endorsed female candidates.

The Registry has now begun to strengthen the role of women through political parties, a key area the Registry has always emphasised on and will continue to do so. The Registry will endeavour to work closely with political parties specifically their Constitutions to create a separate division that will promote women as members, as executives, conduct training tailored for women, identify potential women candidates and seek funds to support women in the political parties that they are members of.

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COMMISSIONING OF THE NEW IPPCC SERVER

Since the inception of the Registry back in the early 2000s, the Registry didn’t have a server nor a Local Area Network (LAN). In 2009 the Registry purchased it first server and setup its LAN in the old office premises at Kumul Haus along Waigani. The Registry moved to its present location here at Varahe Street in 2014 and also moved its equipment. By than the server had being in operation for over 5 years and needed replacing. The office fitout and the initial setup cost was fairly high and left little funds for other works including the purchase of a new. The server finally crashed in early 2016 and the office was handicapped since. This was compounded by the Registry’s budget cut that same year.

The Registry through the Registrar sought various sponsors to assist in the registry’s plight until the Department of National Planning through the Secretary, Ms Hakaua Harry intervened and took up the cost of purchasing it for the office. The server was purchased at a cost of K120 803.75 through Datec. It functions as a data center to support the Registry’s computer applications such as email, file print, website, Alesco payroll system as well as the government accounting system called IFMS.

Features:

• ·     Staff can access emails via mobile devices anywhere 24/7
• ·     Share files without the need for flash drives
• ·     Files are backed up regularly via automated schedules
• ·     Control of files and usage of internet
• ·     Capacity to digitalising and archiving of hard copies
• ·    Updated antivirus and security system
• ·   Virtualisation technology to run more than one server
• ·    Increased storage capacity 
•   The server is backed up by a 2KVA UPS in case of delayed blackout.

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The Registrar, Dr Alphonse Gelu would like to thank Secretary Hakaua Harry from the Department of National Planning for this timely assistance and look forward to enhancing its work through this valuable asset.

REGRETS

By Henao Lister

This is an experience was shared in the office by an officer who attended a funeral in her village. This village is in the Central Province, Rigo District. Its about 45 minutes’ drive outside Port Moresby.

Actual account:

A woman aged 85 was widowed for 35 years. she was illiterate and having no form of formal education manage to bring up her children in a humble together with her late husband. She came from a very unfortunate family from Lebogoro  village, a remote inland village of Rigo. Her late husband from Saroa village where pioneers of a very successful vibrant business that was involved in the transportation and retail business back in the 70s and 80s. Though this was so after the passing of her husband the business took a gradual fall and they lost everything. My husband was part of their family during his teenage years and continue to do so to this day. 

Son looks on his mothers casket

Though she had eight children life was not as comfortable as it seems. Having lost her husband she also witness the passing of one of her daughter. Disaster seemed to have no ending in her life. Her youngest son which she reside with until her passing didn’t show much affection of love towards her which he would later admit with deep regret. At times when she had an argument with one of her children she would be out in the village square sitting in the late nights between 10 to 12pm confused and dishearten

Though she may have nothing in the end one thing she continue to show and give to her children and everyone in her life was love. This was highlighted later on by her own dear son. Every morning before he wakes up his cup of tea was already being made by her. Every afternoon when he returns his mother would give him the best treatment as if a VIP was entering her house. The simple gesture of saying morning, bye and hello was what she showed day in and day out. She would even unleash his shoes when he’s back home.

The son admitted when he read her eulogy that he was so sorry for mistreating her mother. His deepest regrets was never reciprocating the love that she always showed to him. He openly wept in front on the whole congregation as he gave a sound advice to those that still had their parents around. He mentioned to never mistreat your parents when they are alive because his case is an example where he will live with great regrets for the rest of his life.

One sound advice is that love is something that money will never buy. Our parents, partners, loved ones do not need money or gifts from us but our presence and time. Taking time out to visit or giving them a phone call to check up on them. This simple gesture speaks volume.

For those who still have parents around, never take them for granted coz their time on earth is winding down and its only a matter of days, months and some years before they depart from us.

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Acey