Papua New Guinea Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form : Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG

Data code PP

Government type parliamentary democracy

National capital Port Moresby

Administrative divisions 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, EastNew Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, NationalCapital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, WesternHighlands, West New Britain

Independence 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution 16 September 1975

Legal system based on English common law

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented byGovernor General Sir Wiwa KOROWI (since 11 November 1991)
head of government : Acting Prime Minister John GIHENO (since 27 March 1997); Acting DeputyPrime Minister Andrew BAING (since 27 March 1997); note - John GIHENO andAndrew BAING assumed the respective posts of acting prime minister and actingdeputy prime minister after Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (in office since30 August 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (in office since 7September 1994) were required to step down during an inquiry into the government'shiring of mercenaries to assist the Papua New Guinea Defense Forces againstBougainville rebels; the inquiry is scheduled to conclude on 30 May 1997
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on therecommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointedby the National Executive Council; prime minister and deputy prime ministerappointed by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majoritysupport in National Parliament

Legislative branch unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the Houseof Assembly (109 seats - 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincialelectorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held 14-28 June 1997)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pangu Party 24, PDM17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association with political parties is fluid

Judicial branch Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor generalon the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation withthe minister responsible for justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicialand Legal Services Commission

Political parties and leaders Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Chris HAIVETA; People'sDemocratic Movement (PDM), Roy YAKI; People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO;People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; Melanesian Alliance (MA),Fr. John MOMIS; People's United Party (PUP), David UNASI; National Party (NP),Mathias IJAPE; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA;National Alliance (NA), Sir Michael SOMARE; Movement For Greater Autonomy,Stephen POKAWIN; Black Action Party (BAP), John WAIKO; League for NationalAdvancement (LNA), Thomas PELIKA

International organization participation ACP, APEC, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN
chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX : [1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
telephone : [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423

Flag description divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangleis red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangleis black with five white five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellationcentered

NOTE: The information regarding Papua New Guinea on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Papua New Guinea Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Papua New Guinea Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.