Bais to resign after 27yrs

By HELEN TARAWA
ANNA Bais, the secretary to the Department of Community Development, Youth and Religion is leaving the public service after 27 years.
Bais, who organised the annual dedication service for public servants in Port Moresby yesterday, announced that she was quitting.
“It was my last public service dedication, after 27 years in the public service – eight years as the department head, having a lot of family protection, laws and policies and strategies done,” she said.
“I just feel that it’s time for the next ones to come up and there’s many other opportunities out there. I have other plans and I find that this is the great time to exit the public service.
“The public service has brought me up from a payroll clerk to a secretary.
“If it can do that to me, it can do that to anyone.”
Her name has been suggested as a likely candidate for the Moresby North West seat left vacant by the late Sir Mekere Morauta.
“PNG is a wonderful country with great opportunities.
“It can be very challenging for women but if we put our mind to it, we can get there,” she said.
“I’d like to thank Prime Minister James Marape for his support and in his previous capacity as education and finance minister.
“I have seen how they believe in women empowerment, women in leadership and the advancement of women and girls in this country.
“Even though there are so many critics, I’m blessed because I’ve seen what it has done to me and what it can to many of you.”