Benjamin Poponawa Explained

Benjamin Poponawa (born 28 January 1960) is a Papua New Guinea politician.^[1] He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tambul-Nebilyer Open. He was initially elected as an independent, but immediately joined the then-governing National Alliance upon his election.

Poponawa first contested the 2002 general election, but was defeated by People's Democratic Movement candidate Mark Anis.^[2] He again contested the seat as an independent at the 2007 general election, and was successful despite having trailed for most of the count.^[3] He immediately announced his intention to join the governing National Alliance.^{[4] [5]} He was subsequently named as Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury and Finance by Prime Minister Michael Somare.^[6]

In January 2012, he joined Don Polye's new Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party.^[7] He left the party in May 2014.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nominations By Electorate . PNG Electoral Commission . 15 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170712121652/http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nominations.pdf?sfvrsn=0 . 12 July 2017 . dead .
2. Palme, Robert. "Wingti leads in WHP counting". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, June 27, 2002.
3. "New MP for Tambul-Nebilyer". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, August 2, 2007.
4. Gumuno, James Apa. "Poponawa unseats Anis, will join NA". The National, August 2, 2007.
5. Kolo, Pearson. "NA camp on shaky grounds". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, August 3, 2007.
6. "Papua New Guinea premier names vice-ministers". BBC Monitoring Service: Asia-Pacific, August 30, 2007.
7. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2012/January/01-24-04.htm "PNG’S DEFUNCT RULING PARTY REFORMS AS ‘T.H.E. PARTY’"
8. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/245025/resignations-en-masse-from-png-political-party "Resignations en masse from PNG political party"