Somare ‘no’ to by-election

 FORMER Angoram MP Arthur Somare will not be contesting the by-election for the Angoram seat left vacant by the death of Ludwig Schultz last month.

“I am making this declaration in view of rumours and queries being made to me and to my associates,” he said in a statement. 

“I wish to reaffirm my desire to see the best possible candidates come forward to contest this seat to progress the development aspirations of the people of Angoram whom I had the honour and privilege of representing in the national parliament for 15 years.”

He said the people of Angoram had decided in the 2012 election to change their parliamentary rep.

“I have accepted their verdict and decided to stay out of the race to enable another leader to build on the progress that has been made,” he said.

“I have moved on and I am content to try a new life after politics.”

He said he had his run in politics.

“During my 15 years in parliament, I feel my biggest contribution was to work with many Papua New Guineans including political leaders, bureaucrats and landowners to help make the PNG LNG project become the reality that it is today.”

Somare said there was an increased level of prosperity because of the success of agriculture and in particular the Angoram Cocoa Coconut Programme that he introduced.

The Electoral Commission is yet to decide on the date of the by-election.