Pomat offers to train successor

AFTER announcing this term to be his last in Parliament, member-elect for Manus Open Job Pomat says he is open to training next generation of Manus leaders.
Speaking at his declaration in Lorengau on Sunday, featured on a radio show, he thanked all 35 candidates for running with him in the race, adding that he was especially happy that four women also decided to take part.
“For those young men and women who have raised their hands to stand, if you are serious about becoming the next leader of Manus, then I am extending an invitation to you to come and work with me, because this will definitely be my last general election,” he said.
Pomat said politics offered no on-the-job training and there was no school for politics that people would attend to learn how to do the job right, making the system unpredictable.
“I’ve seen a lot of young men and women participate this GE22, but we must have succession plans in order to prepare the next man/woman to take over the position,” he said.
Although he had initially intended for the General Elections 2017 (GE17) to be his last, he stated that he returned because he heard the call of the people and this would be his third term in the 11th parliament.
Referring to all the 36 candidates as a team, he made special mention of runner up and Papua New Guinea National Party candidate Ronny Knight for showing true sportsmanship in being the first to message and congratulate him after his declaration.

Masere vows to continue service delivery

By HELEN TARAWA
Popondetta Open member-elect Richard Masere says administrative and financial handicaps must be addressed before service delivery starts in the new district.
Masere, who was declared member-elect for the new Popondetta Open seat in Northern at the weekend, told The National that he would continue the projects and programmes he delivered in his capacity as Ijivitari MP.
“I thank God for this opportunity to lead my people in this second term of Parliament,” he said.
“Despite the challenges over the last two months, we remained calm and composed and focused on the task of winning this election.”
Masere first entered Parliament in 2017 as Ijivitari MP but switched to the new electorate established by Parliament last year.
Masere, who is also the leader of the PNG Green Party, said it was important to understand the significance of the split of the district.
He said the last thing the district needed was a stop-start approach.
“Over the past five years, we have worked tirelessly to make Ijivitari better by delivering 70 per cent of our five-year development plan,” he said.
“Our next five years, we will target the education sector and key economic areas like agriculture and tourism to stimulate employment opportunities for our people.
“We will also target employment opportunities within the mining space and push our plans to send our young people to Australia under the Pacific Island labour mobility programme.
“We will work closely with our development partners and government agencies to achieve these key strategies. We will continue to roll-out our rural intervention programmes simply because these projects directly impact our communities.
“I have met with all the relevant government agencies to ensure that the transition period is short hence the district can effectively function shortly after the election.”

Niningi plans to seek better housing for security forces

RE-ELECTED Imbonggu MP Pila Niningi says Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Police and Correctional Services officers play a crucial role during national elections while living in rundown houses.
During Niningi’s declaration on Saturday, he said he would address this in Parliament for Government to look into their housing issue and other associated problems.
“Police alone play an important role to protect properties and people’s lives,” he said.
“Under the scorching sun, rain and night, they are committed to provide security while their families live in poor houses and that should be the government’s priority.”
Niningi said due to housing shortage, many police rented accommodation or lived in their villages and went to work which was an expensive exercise.
He said he respected the three security forces and would talk on their behalf.
Meanwhile, Niningi thanked the people of Lower Mendi and Mendi Central for trusting him and re-electing him to complete some of the work he started.
“I will help in making sure the proposed Mendi central electorate has an administrative building constructed so that the new MP in 2027 will organise his district development authority in that building,” he said.
“Those candidates that challenged him in this General Election 2022 must feel free to communicate with him on how best they can improve service delivery in Imbonggu before they are separated,” he said.
Niningi said he was the last elected MP before the electorate would be separated into Imbonggu and Mendi Central.
Niningi, who is a Pangu Pati candidate, polled 41,970 votes to be declared the second term MP and runner up independent candidate Lones Nali scored 21,141 votes and on third place was United Labour Party candidate Joseph Ingipa with 17,965 votes.
He was declared at 6pm after reaching the absolute majority; 40,557 + 1 after the 14th elimination.

Milne Bay extends liquor ban

The Milne Bay liquor licensing commission has extended the partial liquor ban for the province following the extension of the date for the return of writs by the PNG Electoral Commission.
Provincial chief liquor licensing commissioner Ashan Numa in a circular on Friday announced the extension of the ban.
The ban was imposed on May 20, 2022, and was supposed to end on Aug 1, but had now been extended to Aug 5. Numa, who is also the provincial administrator, said the extension was to cover the election period which ends this week at the return of writs.
He said in the circular that all outlets selling takeaway alcohol were restricted during this period.
Numa added that hotels, licensed restaurants, licensed wholesale and clubs were exempted.
He said normal business will resume on Aug 8, 2022, at 9am on the usual operating time as per the liquor license.