State appoints lawyer as new administrator of Western

LAWYER Aquila Sampson has been appointed by Cabinet as Western administrator putting to rest the controversy over the position since the jailing of former administrator Modowa Gumoi in November 2016.
Public Service Minister Elias Kapavore told The National yesterday that Sampson was chosen from a shortlist of three candidates submitted to Cabinet by the Western executive council.
The shortlist had acting provincial administrator Robert Alphonse Kaiyun, Utoro Ekesae and Sampson.
Sampson is acting commissioner for the National Lands Commission of Papua New Guinea and worked as the deputy State Solicitor with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General for the past five years.
Kapavore urged Western Governor Taboi Awi Yoto to work with Sampson. “I believe that they (Western government) can work with him (Sampson) and sort out some of the issues that are affecting the province,” he said.
“We acknowledge the good work done by the acting administrator, Robert Alphonse Kaiyun, who was actually the first preference (of the provincial executive council).
“The National Executive Council, in its wisdom, decided for an older person who has experience in public sector and law.
“That was the basis for the National Executive Council making the decision regarding this appointment.”