Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port Moresby
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands,
East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay,
Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern
Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, 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 (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Albert KIPALAN (since 13
November 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2
August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Andrew BAING (since 15 November
2003)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the
governor general
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House
of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from
provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003;
completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not
completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not
later than June 2007
election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 15%, Pangu Pati
14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%,
independents 33%; seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM
9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note -
association with political parties is very fluid (2002)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor
general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after
consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges
are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)
Political parties and leaders:
Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Bernard NAROKOBI]; National
Alliance or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George MANOA, party
president]; National Front Party [leader NA]; National Party or NP
[leader NA]; Papua New Guinea Revival Party [John PUNDARI]; Papua
New Guinea United Party or Pangu Pati [Pate WAMP, party leader;
Chris HAIVETA, parliamentary leader]; People's Action Party or PAP
[Ted DIRO]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sir Mekere
MORAUTA]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Peter YAMA]; People's
National Congress or PNC [Bill SKATE]; People's Progress Party or
PPP [Michael NALI]; People's Unity Party or PUP [leader NA]; United
Party or UP [Rimbiuk PATO]
note: 43 political parties registered to participate in the June
2002 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (associate member),
C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC
20036
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. Fitts
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State,
Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle
is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower
triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered