Job Pomat
Manus Open | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Born | 1960 (age 63–64) Rossun, Pangu Party (2022–) |
Other political affiliations | Independent (2020–2022) People’s National Congress (2007-2020) |
Job Pomat
Early life
Pomat grew up in the village of Rossun on the island of Manus, in what was then the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. His father Peter Pomat, village chief and missionary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, ran unsuccessfully three times in the elections for the colonial legislative assembly, prior to independence in 1975.
He worked as a technician for various companies before contesting the 1993 provincial election. He served as Speaker and Deputy Governor of the Manus provincial government for two terms.[1]
Political career
Pomat was first elected to the National Parliament at the 2007 general election in the seat of Manus Open, representing People’s National Congress.[2] He was appointed Inter-Government Relations Minister in Prime Minister Michael Somare’s Cabinet. He then served as Fisheries Minister in Peter O’Neill’s Cabinet.[1]
He lost his seat at the 2012 general election after one term to then-New Generation Party member Ronny Knight.[3]
He regained the seat at the 2017 general election and was subsequently elected as Speaker of the tenth National Parliament. As Speaker, he had totems and other artefacts reintroduced into Parliament that his predecessor Theo Zurenuoc had removed in 2013 for religious reasons.[4]
In 2018, he became the deputy leader of People’s National Congress.[5]
In 2019, the
In May 2019, Pomat was criticised for refusing to allow the opposition to introduce a censure motion against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, and then refusing to authorise a vote on his own removal as speaker.[8] O'Neill resigned the next day, and Job Pomat presided over the election of James Marape to the position of Prime Minister by MPs.[9]
He resigned from the People's National Congress on 22 June 2020 and became an independent to protect his neutrality as speaker and in response to allegations of fraud.[10]
In 2021, opposition leader
Pomat won his seat at the 2022 general election as a candidate for the Pangu Party and was re-elected as Speaker of the eleventh National Parliament. As of 2022, he is also the Chairman of Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings, Legislation and National Parliament Committees.[13]
Personal life
Pomat is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[14]
Pomat’s contribution and service to the community was recognised by the
References
- ^ a b c Ingipa, Joyce (2019-11-07). "How Job made it right for late dad". The National. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
- ^ "NATIONAL ELECTION 2007". PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2012". PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ Popot, Glenda (2017-10-19). "Parliament totems to be reinstated". Loop PNG. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ "O'Neill welcomes three more MPs to PNC". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ "Paladin cut deal with family of PNG powerbroker". Australian Financial Review. 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ "I have nothing to hide over Paladin Contract, says PNG Parliament Speaker Pomat". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ Tahana, Jamie; Blades, Johnny; Hawkins, Koroi (2019-05-28). "PNG parliament erupts in chaos as motions are rejected". RNZ. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea MPs elect James Marape to be next prime minister". the Guardian. 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ "PNG parliament speaker resigns from party". RNZ. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
- ^ "Court application against Speaker of Parliament to be prosecuted". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ "PNG's power plays and political sideshows". Crawford School of Public Policy. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ "Hon. Job Pomat, CMG, MP - Eleventh Parliament of Papua New Guinea". parliament.gov.pg. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
- ^ Nao, Kila (2021-10-24). "Pomat Opens New SDA Church". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
External links
- Video of Job Pomat's election as Speaker of Parliament archive, EMTV, 2 August 2017