Robert Agarobe Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Robert Agarobe
Office:Governor of Central Province
Term Start:2017
Term End:August 2022
Predecessor:Kila Haoda
Successor:Rufina Peter
Office2:Member of National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
Term Start2:2017
Term End2:August 2022
Constituency2:Central Provincial
Predecessor2:Kila Haoda
Successor2:Rufina Peter
Party:Pangu Party (2017–)
Otherparty:Independent (2017)
Nationality:Papua New Guinean
Alma Mater:Port Moresby Technical College
Website:robertagarobe.com

Robert Agarobe is a Papua New Guinea businessman and politician. He was the Governor of Central Province[1] [2] and a Member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, but was unseated by Rufina Peter in the 2022 Papua New Guinean general election.[3]

Early life

Agarobe was born at Sopas Hospital in Enga Province. He attended Gabagaba Primary School and Kwikila High Secondary. He obtained a certificate in Trade and Aircraft Maintenance from Port Moresby Technical College. He then became an apprentice with Aircair Ltd in 1984.[4] He became a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Through his career, he worked for Islands Nationair, Heli Niugini, Helitech, PNGDF Air Transport Wing, RPNGC Police Air Wing, Helicopter Resources Australia, and Berjaya Air. In September 1998, he founded his own company, Helifix Aviation.

Political career

He was first elected to the National Parliament at the 2017 general election, running as an independent candidate. Following his election, he joined the Pangu Party. He then became the Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee.[5] On 24 May 2019, he moved from the Government to the Opposition.[6]

Agarobe has described his vision to move provincial government offices from the National Capital District, which is surrounded by Central Province, into towns such as Kwikila, Kupiano, Bereina and Tapini.[7] This has brought Agarobe in conflict with representatives of National Capital District, particularly Motu Koita Assembly Chairman and Deputy Governor of NCD, Dadi Toka Jr, who has been openly critical of Agarobe's claims to Motu Koitabu tribal lands. [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Central Governor, Robert Agarobe Pushes for Decentralisation. emtvonline. 2018-12-05. EMTV Online. en-US. 2019-06-04.
  2. Web site: May 6, 2019 . Wouwou rejoins PNG breakaway camp as O’Neill loses more support in crisis . 2019-06-04 . Asia Pacific Report . en-US.
  3. Web site: PNC Party's Woman Candidate, Rufina Peter wins Central Governor Seat . PNG Today . 7 August 2022.
  4. Web site: Robert Agarobe. en-US. 2019-05-30.
  5. Web site: Hon. Robert Agarobe, MP - Tenth Parliament of Papua New Guinea. www.parliament.gov.pg. 2019-05-30.
  6. Web site: Move to Opposition for good of Central, Agarobe says. National. The. 2019-05-24. The National. en-US. 2019-05-30.
  7. Web site: Robert Agarobe. en-US. 2019-05-30.
  8. Web site: Koiari LLG calls on Dadi Toka Jr to apologise. 14 July 2019.