Twelve new board members of the Porgera Local Level Government Special Authority have taken up their office after they were sworn in yesterday under Section 45 (4) of the Local Level Government (LLG) Authority Act, 1997 and the Constitution of Porgera LLG Special Purpose Authority (Porgera Development Authority-PDA)
The ceremony was witness by LLG presidents of the 4 LLGs in Porgera Paiela District including members of the LLG Administration office, First Secretary to Minister for Provincial and Local Level Affairs, stakeholders, Porgera SML Landowners and other guests.
Speaking before the official swearing in of the board members, Porgera District Administrator Mr. Jerry Maku clarified that this swearing in ceremony was actually the second ceremony after the first one was brought to court and overthrown early this year.
Mr. Maku stated that having Porgera as a brand new electorate of its own for the first time and to have its own member in parliament is a great achievement and he urged all the board members to go back to Porgera and clean Porgera up and restore its name.
After the swearing in of the twelve (12) board members (8 board members and 4 ex- officio board members) the appointment of the chairman and his deputy was also done by the board.
Mr. Nickson Mangape was appointed as the Chairman for Porgera LLG Special Purpose Authority and his deputy was Mr. Anako Aiyala.
Newly elected Chairman Mr. Mangape in his inaugural speech stated that Porgera actually contributes about 16% of the Waigani Budget, and the Porgera Development Authority is a government institution that implements different services and projects and to be elected as the Chairman is an honour.
Mr. Mangape stated that for the last 10 years, the Porgera Development Authority has not delivered and has gone down the drain.
“Our Prime Minister says, let’s take back PNG, but it starts with taking back Porgera,” said Mr. Managape.
Mr. Mangape further stressed that there will be self proclaimed board members and chairman putting out claims, and all these should never be entertained.
Everything has to follow process and go through the board because the board is the only one that can and will run the affairs of Porgera Development Authority.
He urged stakeholders, Enga Provincial Government and the State to work in partnership with the Porgera Local Level Government Special Purpose Authority to deliver to the people of Porgera.
Mr. Mangape highlighted that the first thing his board will look into to address is Law and Order issue that is degrading the image of Porgera.
“Law and order is a priority, in a town where there are 3, 500 workforce both expatriates and nationals and 150,000 population, we need to restore peace and harmony in Porgera Paiela,” said Mr. Mangape.