At last ! First woman wins seat in 2012 PNG election
21 July 2012
KEITH JACKSON
DELLILAH PUEKA GORE (Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party), the little known candidate outside her own area who led narrowly from the very beginning of counting in her seat, has become the first female member to be elected to parliament in the current national poll.
She defeated independent Henty Amuli in the Sohe Open (Northern Province) by 6,105 to 4,112 after preferences.
PNG Atttiude would like to bring you a profile of Ms Gore but even the PNG national daily, the Post-Courier, admits that little is known about her. Perhaps one of our readers can help.
Meanwhile women candidates are challenging strongly in two other seats.
In Madang Provincial, Mary Kamang (People’s National Congress) is trailing sitting member Arnold Amet (National Alliance) by nearly 2,000 votes, but there are lots of preferences to count and this remains a very close race.
And the gutsy Loujaya Toni (Indigenous People’s Party) is fighting strongly in Lae Open, where she is fourth but only 400 votes behind the leader, Fred Wak (Independent). Sitting member Bart Philemon (New Generation party) is running second.
Preferences are now being counted in this seat and there is a very close tussle between the leading contenders.
Supporters of representative politics worldwide will be hoping that these two women will be able to join Dellilah Gore in the 111-seat, almost male monopolised PNG parliament.
Being a Orokaiva woman, I am so proud of Ms Gore. She lived in the area, knows the people and more importantly,
the people of Orokaiva know her.
This sends a strong message to those fly in, fly out types
who do not live within the community, but fly in just to
stand in an election.
Posted by: Ayn T Sunana / Melbourne & Darwin | 25 July 2012 at 10:47 AM
Delilah has done Sohe proud. In a constituency which boasted the likes of Dr John Waiko, a little-known lady from my wife's province (a distant cousin), has shown that quiet resolve and tenacity can triumph over patriarchy and tribalism.
I feel priveliged to be associated with a province which has never before elected a woman and that she was the first woman to win in this election.
I hope she is not browbeaten and overawed by her male colleagues and can achieve great things for her province and her people. Well done, Delilah.
Posted by: Dr Chris Wynn | 25 July 2012 at 01:45 AM
Most of us do know little about Papua New Guinea's 5th ever female MP, Delilah Gore.
But I can share that she is the former Ijivitari District Treasurer (the other electorate in Northern Province), and resigned about 6 months ago to contest the 2012 National Election - her first attempt.
Delilah is well-respected in Sohe and is a woman of faith, and is relatively well-known throughout the electorate.
I predicted that Delilah Gore would win Sohe Open on July 12 after paying close attention to the numbers, and how votes were being cast in Sohe.
I noticed some interesting things, and PNG Attitude readers can find out more about how the people of Sohe vote here and why this helped Delilah win:
http://garamut.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/why-delilah-gore-will-win-sohe-open/
Also, what makes this win even more special is that Delilah's key voters were women. She spent those 6months talking with women, and asking for their support. This reflects the cultural context which is characteristic of Northern Province.
Here's another link to more of background of women MPs in PNG's parliament:
http://garamut.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/png-woman-storms-to-lead-in-sohe-open/
Posted by: Tavurvur | 22 July 2012 at 01:11 AM
Congratulations to Dellilah Pueka Gore.
I've met some wonderful women from Northern Province in the past. I wish her well.
Posted by: Mrs Barbara Short | 21 July 2012 at 10:29 PM
Congratulation to the Member elect for Sohe.
Posted by: John Wali | 21 July 2012 at 06:37 PM
It's taking time but there are signs that PNG citizens might be gradually waking up to the fact that their women are indeed the better half -- the country's salvation lies with the recognition of this.
Posted by: David Wall | 21 July 2012 at 03:40 PM