l Capital, New
Ireland, Northern, North Solomons, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western,
Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence:
16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under Australian administration)
Constitution:
16 September 1975
Legal system:
based on English common law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
National Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (sometimes referred to as the House of
Assembly)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Wiwa KOROWI (since NA November 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Paias WINGTI (since 17 July 1992)
Political parties and leaders:
Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Rabbie NAMALIU; People's
Democratic Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI; People's Action Party (PAP), Akoka
DOI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; United Party (UP), Paul
TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National Party (NP), Paul PORA;
Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
National Parliament:
last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent by
party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10,
independents 30, others 18
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM
(observer), SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Margaret TAYLOR; Chancery at 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 745-3680
US:
Ambassador Robert W. FARRAND; Embassy at Armit Street, Port Moresby (mailing
address is P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, or APO AE 96553); telephone [675]
211-455 or 594, 654; FAX [675] 213-423

:Papua New Guinea Government

Flag:
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

:Papua New Guinea Economy

Overview: