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PNG Country Party
LeaderChris Haiveta
PresidentNelson Duabane [1]
SecretaryRose Kepo [1]
FounderSinake Giregire
FoundedMarch 1974 (1974-03)
IdeologyRural development
Agrarianism
National Parliament
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The Papua New Guinea Country Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1974.

History

The party was founded by Sinake Giregire in March 1974 in advance of Papua New Guinean independence, drawing members largely from the United Party.[2][3][4] The party's policy was largely based on agricultural, resource and other economic development.[5] The conservative Australian Country Party reportedly agreed to provide assistance to the new party.[6] It was involved in the Nationalist Pressure Group in debates surrounding the formation of the Constitution of Papua New Guinea. Giregire was defeated by John Guise in a bid to become the first Governor-General of Papua New Guinea in 1975, but the party successfully nominated Tore Lokoloko as the second Governor-General in 1977.[5][7] Giregire lost his seat at the 1977 election.[8]

Giregire revived the party for the 2002 election after years of inactivity, with ex-politicians Albert Mokai, Mackenzie Dauge, James Ibras and Bionte Heruo as regional co-ordinators. Giregire described the party's ideology as conservative but "more aggressive in addressing basic fundamentals of the society", specifically targeting the rural population.[4] Former MP Roy Buaki Singeri and rugby star Dekot Koki were also among the party's candidates.[9] Giregire was defeated, finishing third in his seat.[8] Kompiam-Ambium candidate Dickson Maki was the only one to be elected, but declared himself an independent before joining the People's Action Party only days after his election.[10][11]

It was relaunched again in October 2006 when MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham, formerly from the People's Progress Party, crossed to the Country Party and accepted the leadership with the support of Giregire.[12] Maxtone-Graham was re-elected for the Country Party in the 2007 election and was joined by Jim Nomane, who won in Chuave Open.[13][14] Maxtone-Graham and Nomane both crossed to other parties during that term, and Giregire died in January 2012.[5] The party briefly regained a parliamentary seat when Minister for Environment and Conservation Thompson Harokaqveh crossed to the party and assumed the leadership in April 2012.[15] Harokaqveh lost his own seat at the 2012 election, but two new MPs were elected at the election: Jeffery Kuave (Lufa Open) and Richard Mendani (Kerema Open). Both MPs defected to the People's National Congress in May 2013.[16]

The party did not have parliamentary representation between 2013 and 2017, but party president Nelson Duwabane remained politically active during that time, having been outspoken about legal issues surrounding defecting MPs.[17][18]

Electoral results

The party contested the 2017 election, and as of May 2019 has 2 seats in the National Parliament.

References

  1. ^ a b "REGISTRY OF POLITICAL PARTIES" (PDF). Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  2. ^ "The origins of PNG's independence". Australian Associated Press. 8 September 2005.
  3. ^ Rich, Roland, Hambly, Luke & Morgan, Michael G. (January 2008). Political Parties in the Pacific Islands. ANU ePress. p. 86. ISBN 9781921313752.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b "Veteran politician revives Country Party for 2002 poll". PNG Post-Courier. 14 May 2001.
  5. ^ a b c "Knight Sir Sinake Giregire is dead". PNG Post Courier. 5 January 2012.
  6. ^ Daily report: Asia & Pacific, Issues 127-136. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1974.
  7. ^ "PNG's first G-G Sir John Guise". PNG Post-Courier. 9 February 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Goroka's shining knight". Weekend Courier. 29 May 2010.
  9. ^ "GENERAL ELECTIONS 2002 - ROUND-UP In Brief". PNG Post-Courier. 9 April 2002.
  10. ^ "New elections for six SHP seats". PNG Post-Courier. 2 August 2002.
  11. ^ "PAP numbers swell to 10". PNG Post Courier. 8 August 2002.
  12. ^ "Party eyes comeback". PNG Post Courier. 27 October 2006.
  13. ^ "Small parties fared well in elections". PNG Post Courier. 2 August 2007.
  14. ^ "Nomane wins back seat". PNG Post Courier. 27 July 2007.
  15. ^ "Harokaqveh to lead party". PNG Post Courier. 23 April 2012.
  16. ^ "Gelu worried over MPs' party-hopping". PNG Post Courier. 21 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Support for law to stregthen parties". PNG Post Courier. 21 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Gelu urged to stay out of party issues". PNG Post Courier. 19 October 2015.

Further reading

  • Orlegge, W. T. (2002) "Goroka Open: From Rural Capitalist to Educated Elites?" Catalyst. Melanesian Institute.
  • Goroka Gazette. 1967. Goroka.
  • Highlands News. 1971, 1972, 1973. Goroka.
  • Woolford, D. Assignment New Guinea.
  • Hastings, P. Politics of Papua New Guinea.
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