Member for Manus, Job Pomat has not only been re-elected as the Member for Manus but also as the Speaker for the 11th Parliament.
Pomat was nominated by Gulf Governor, Chris Haiveta.
With no other nominations, Member elect for Madang Open Brian Kramer called for the close of nominations. The Clark of Parliament Mr Kala Aufa then declared Mr Pomat the Speaker of the 11th Parliament unopposed.
As is tradition, a man dressed in traditional attire stands beside the Speaker’s Chair and beats the drum as part of the announcement.
Pomat was then escorted by a jolly Chris Haiveta and Governor for Hela, Philip Undialu to the Speaker’s Chair.
“Honorable Members, mi laik kisim displa taim, tok bikpla hamamas tru, long thankim parliament givim mi displa bikpla honor, olsem Speaker blong displa 11th Parliament”.
[Translation: “Honorable members, I would like to take this time, to thank the parliament for giving me the greatest honor of being the Speaker of the 11th Parliament.“]
Following a short speech, the Clerk of Parliament then announced that the Mase which has been placed under the table has been raised to the top of the table following the election of the Speaker and the beating of the kundu drum.
“Honorable Members, the mace which has been placed under the table has been raised to the top after the beating of the garamut, signifies that the Parliament is in session with the Speaker elect presiding.”
A Mace is a symble of authority that is placed on the table in Parliament when the Speaker is in Chair. Pomat then adjourned the parliament for a few minutes to allow for his official swearing in at the Office of the Governor General.
He later returned to Parliament to chair the nominations for the Prime Minister’s seat among others. Job Pomat was first elected to the 8th Parliament in 2007 under People’s National Congress Party.
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