The National Alliance Party’s 60 candidates for the 2022 national election represent a blend of experienced former government Ministers, top ranking bureaucrats and individuals with high academic accomplishments, says Party Leader Patrick Pruaitch. “This is a talented and dedicated team capable of running the government even though NA is destined to be part of a Coalition Government in the 118-seat 11th Parliament,” Mr Pruaitch said. The NA team, he said, included a dozen former Cabinet Ministers and Provincial Governors and many individuals who hold post-graduate qualifications. Former Cabinet Ministers are contesting all four regions. This includes former Police Minister Sani Rambi for Mul Baiyer (Highlands), former Agriculture and Livestock Minister Andrew Baing for Markham Open (Momase), former Fisheries Minister Alois King for Madang Provincial (Momase) and former Forests Minister Tim Neville for Milne Bay Provincial (Papua). Islands Region candidates include NA’s Secretary General, Civil Service Minister Walter Schnaubelt, for Namatanai Open and former Agriculture Minister Malakai Tabar for Gazelle Open. Mr Pruaitch, the longest serving PNG Treasurer, will contest his West Sepik seat of Aitape-Lumi (Momase). Former and current Provincial Governors in NA’s 2022 team included Allan Bird (East Sepik), Tony Wouwou (West Sepik), Julie Soso (Eastern Highlands) and Tim Neville (Milne Bay). Other high profile current NA MPs recontesting include Ross Seymour, Huon Gulf Open; Peter Isoaimo, Kairuku Open; William Nakin, North Bougainville Open and Salio Waipo, Angoram Open. NA’s Joyce Grant, a noted figure who has mentored political candidates over many years as the party’s Executive Secretary, will contest Kiriwina-Goodenough Open (Milne Bay). “We are optimistic the electorate will recognise the talent and abilities of our four women candidates and vote Ms Grant, Julie Soso (Eastern Highlands Provincial), Mary Morola (Kerema Open) and Sheila Harou (Morobe Provincial) into parliament with public recognition of the importance of the voice of women in Parliament. “These four women are leaders in their own right and will play important roles within their electorates as well as nationally,” Mr Pruaitch noted. Mr Pruaitch said NA’s “pool of talent includes two candidates who rose to the highest levels in academia – Dr Misty Baloiloil, the longest serving Vice Chancellor at the University of Technology and Dr Francis Baindu Essacu, Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Natural Resources and Environment.” Like other NA candidates, Dr Baloiloil, NA candidate for Esa’ala Open (Milne Bay), and Dr Essacu, for Wosera Gawi Open (East Sepik), are eager to bring social and economic development to rural electorates they represent. “A future NA government will place a high priority on job creation and rejuvenation of smallholder production of coffee, cocoa, and other produce, which has been neglected for several years. NA is determined to transform the agriculture sector to promote prosperity and lower widespread poverty,” Mr Pruaitch said. Other NA candidates include a medical doctor, Dr Petrus Opum, contesting the Anglimp South Waghi Open (Jiwaka). Candidates from the commercial world include Dominic Kaumu, Talasea Open (West New Britain), who served in upper echelons of Air Niugini management for many years and Adam Wangu, a geologist with experience in PNG as well as in Indonesia and Myanmar. Several NA candidates have risen to senior positions in the public service. Among them is Mary Oakiva Morola, NA candidate for Kerema Open, who headed the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations. Ms Morola holds post-graduate qualifications in public finance, business management and human resources. Another distinguished former public servant contesting Morobe Provincial is NA’s Sheila Pati Harou, who recently served as Morobe’s Acting Provincial Administrator. Others with notable public service experience include Norman Barnabas, for Nawaeb Open, Morobe, a former First Secretary for Fisheries; Gregory Ume, for Samarai Murua Open, Milne Bay, an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Planning and Tumai Ipou, for Goilala Open, a disaster management expert in Central. The NA candidate for Telefomin Open, Sandaun, Atimern Buhupe, is development specialist with a Master’s Degree in Development Studies.