A FEW WISE MEN . . .

 

Sir Nambuga Mara (left) and Mr Simon Koiam.

OLD FRIENDS MEET UP AGAIN

THE last time these two men met was 42 years.

That is a lifetime ago. They were young and lively youthful provincial politicians.

They stood on the cusp of history as the first men to lead Western Highlands into political decentralization of leadership.

They became the first premier and deputy premier when the provicial government system was reformed.

Nambuga Mara, who turned 80 on Feb 02, 2022, became the first premier and Simon Koiam joined him in making history as the first deputy premier.

Mr Koiam, from Tsigmil village, Minj town in Jiwaka province, was in Mount Hagen to celebrate the 80th birthday of Sir Nambuga.

Now 77, Mr Koiam was a teacher when his people of the Manda Tribes of Jiwaka asked him to contest the provincial elections. 

He won comfortably and joined Mara to form the first WHP provincial government. 

At the time, Jiwaka was still a part of Western Highlands, and only became a new province in 2012.

In 1980, Mr Koiam held the powerful and important portfolio of Provincial Planning as well.

Together the Mara Koiam government planned several major projects in Jiwaka.

These included what is now Minj secondary school, Mount Au patrol post in East Kambia where there is now a primary school and health centre, the Simon footbridge over the Waghi River which connects the north and south Waghi population, the Jimi road, Kol high school in Jimi and Tsigmil health centre. 

These projects were planned and executed by provincial secretary John Pun and works engineer, a Kiwi named Peter Dorflinger.

Mr Koiam said: "I am happy to be back in where it all started.

Sir Nambuga blows out his 80th birthday candles.

"Happy to see Mara is fit and healthy. He is three years older then me so I wish him on his big day a very happy birthday."

"On behalf of Jiwaka people, we salute you for your leadership and for helping develop Jiwaka to a state where we could break away and form a new province," the former school teacher said.

February 02, 2022 was indeed be a big day for Sir Nambuga. 

The former Kapal Haus, with the blessings of Sir Philip Kapal, was renamed the Nambuga Mara Haus in honour of first premier Sir Nambuga. 

And the people and leaders of Western Highlands and Jiwaka will also remember the two men who set the pace for development of both provinces.

Happy Birthday founding father of Western Highlands and Jiwaka provinces Sir Nambuga Mara.