Arthur Somare

Who is Arthur Somare?

The Honourable Arthur Somare is a Member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. He represents the electorate of Angoram Open in East Sepik province for the National Alliance Party. His father is Sir Michael Somare, the disputed Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

Arthur Somare was first elected to the 6th national Parliament in 1997, and has served in several ministerial roles, including Minister for Communications and Minister for Planning. In March 2006, Arthur Somare, resigned as Minister for National Planning and Monitoring over alleged “financial improprieties” He was reappointed as head of the Ministry for Public Enterprise, Information, and Development in July 2006 and remained in this role until his suspension in July 2011 over misconduct in office.

As the Minister for Public Enterprises, Somare and his ministry had responsibility for the Independent Public Business Corporation, which is the sole shareholder of all of the state owned enterprises such as Air Niugini, Telikom, PNG Power, Ports PNG, Eda Ranu and PNG Waterboard, and other businesses.

He is also one of the key political tacticians of the National Alliance Party.