PNG NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTIONS: THE LAST KNIGHT

 

Sir Julius, his last hurrah as Governor of New Ireland.

SIR JULIUS RETAINS GOVERNOR'S SEAT

 

By THIERRY LEPANI

 
AT 83, he is the Last Knight Standing in the original crop of eminent colonial and independence era politicians.
 
Veteran Sir Julius Chan on We ticked off history by becoming the oldest politician in the PNG national parliament to retain his New Ireland regional seat in NGE2022.
 
Sir Julius Chan will serve as Governor of New Ireland for another 5 years after reaching the absolute majority yesterday and being officially declared as Governor.
 
Sir J is also party leader of People’s Progress Party and is the first to be declared from his party.
 
After the Primary Count of all ten LLGs, Sir J was declared winner with 58, 024 votes.
 

Ian Ling-Stuckey, returned as Kavieng MP.

Almost consecutively, Kavieng MP Ian Ling-Stuckey was formally declared the winner retaining his seat and adding to the list of Pangu candidates declared so far.

In Namatanai, incumbent Walter Schnaubelt, a nephew of Sir Julius is leading, coincidentally from his cousin Byron Chan.

He has garnered 46 percent of the round 1 votes with cousin Byron close behind.

In an interview with the Post-Courier senior political reporter Gorethy Kenneth,  Sir J said he was returning to smooth the way for autonomy for New Ireland. 

He is also very vocal about PNG landowners missing out ownership of minerals found on and under their land.

The old boy believes Papua New Guineans have been hard done by unrealistic mineral ownership laws that have left locals poor on their own land.

For the record Sir J was prime minister of PNG twice, was founding Treasurer who framed PNG's first budget at independence in 1975.

Under him, PNG's currency Kina and Toea was launched. To commemorate the occasion, Sir J named his other son Toea.

He also devalued the Kina which has since fluctuated in value.

Sir J preaching land ownership issues on one of his many wokabaots in New Ireland. Picture courtesy of NIPG Media Unit. 

 
Meanwhile, fellow member of the former prime minister’s club, PNC Party Leader Peter O’Neill congratulated Sir J saying: “It is with the greatest respect and admiration that I congratulate Sir Julius Chan on his re-election.
 
“His wisdom and forthright way of representing his people of New Ireland and our country is needed now more than ever.
 
“I look forward to serving in the 11th National Parliament alongside him.”
 
He will be the oldest MP in the 11^th Parliament at an age of 83.

* Sir Julius first entered The House of Assembly as Member for Namatanai in 1968. Back then, members served 4 year terms.

Sir Julius Chan held the Namatanai seat consecutively for 29 years from 1968-1997 before he was defeated by Ephraim Apelis in the 1997 NGE. 

In 2002, he turned his attention the Governorship. However, he was beaten by Ian Ling-Stuckey. 

In 2007, he won the NIP Regional seat from ILS and has held it since, making him the only New Irelander to serve 44 years in the PNG Parliament. When he completes the next 5 year trm, he will have served 49 years, a PNG record.

 

Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt, also on his way to victory.