Woman in top Pangu post

THE ruling Pangu Pati has for the first time elected a woman – Erigeri Singin – as its national president.
Party leader and Prime Minister James Marape announced the election of Singin, a former radio and tourism industry personality, at the party’s national convention in Port Moresby on Friday.
“One of the key outcomes of (the convention) is the election of Singin as the national president of the Pangu Pati,” Marape said.
“In 1977, the first lady into Parliament was Pangu’s Nahau Rooney. Pangu is breaking the frontier barrier again. Not only men can do the job, women can also do the job.”
Singin, from Boana in Morobe, replaces Patrick Pundao.
Marape thanked Pundao for his services to the party in the past seven years.
Also elected were Louisah Hosea as female vice-president, Sama Auro as male vice-president and Joe Tep as the church representative.
Singin said it was a breakthrough for women in the country.
“What happened today was very historic,” she said.
“There’s a huge paradigm shift here, from having men around the party, to giving some responsibility to women.
“It is important that both men and women leaders work together to carry this party through, this country through, to stand together.
“I am very happy to be given this responsibility to work with the people of PNG.” Pangu general secretary Morris Tovebae said the party’s message to the nation was clear: “Pangu is not a male-dominated political party. We are very inclusive and gender-conscious.”