Wau Waria completes historic LLG leaders swearing in

Wau Rural LLG Councilors with their President-elect John Aki seated 4th center from the right in the front row, with the inaugural meetings 3men/woman team seated on the left (NBC News)

The newly established Wau Waria District of Morobe province has completed the official swearing-in of 41 ward councillors across its three Local Level Governments [LLGs].

Only two remaining councilors of the Waria LLG, to be sworn in later at the district office in Wau town, which will then bring the total number of councilors to 43.

Over three days, a team led by the Deputy Provincial Administrator [DPA] and Social Services, Robin Bazzinuc, the public solicitor’s office representative, counsel Erea Tienare as the Commissioner of Oaths, and the District Administrator, John Orebut, who chaired the inaugural meetings of the three LLGs.

The inaugural meetings were first conducted at the Garaina Station for the Waria LLG on Tuesday, the 25th of November, later to the Wau Rural LLG on Wednesday, and concluded on Thursday, the 27th, with the declaration and swearing-in of the Wau Urban LLG councilors and the district’s first Mayor.

Wau Waria district’s newly established Wau Urban LLG's pioneer Mayor, Gideon Kipusing swearing his oath, to be officially sworn in by the Public Solicitor's office's representative, Counsel Erea Tienare as the Commissioner of Oaths (NBC News)

The Social Services DPA, Mr Bazzinuc described the inaugural meetings and their peaceful outcomes, as a historic milestone for the new Wau Waria district.

“What we’ve conducted is now part of history for the Wau Waria District, especially for the newly established Wau Urban LLG that broke away from the former Wau Bulolo Urban LLG,” he said. “This makes the six ward councillors and the Mayor-elect the pioneers of the new Wau Urban LLG.”

Elections for the new LLG Presidents and Mayor were conducted straight after the councilor’s swearing-in, with Maita Tokubo as the President-elect for Waria LLG, John Aki as the President-elect for Wau Rural LLG, and Gideon Kipusing as the first Mayor-elect of the new Wau Urban LLG.

First time for an inaugural meeting for the swearing-in of councilors and LLG President to be conducted at Garaina station for the Waria LLG (NBC News)

Chairing the ceremonies as the Acting CEO/caretaker of the LLGs until the Presidents and a Mayor were voted, the Wau Waria District Administrator, John Orebut urged all the newly elected leaders to stay close to their communities.

“You are the voice and faces of your people at that very important level,” Orebut said. “We cannot know what’s happening in the villages, it is you who will communicate and inform us. Please, do not run to Lae City after your mandates.”

The entire process was completed peacefully, with all three LLG assemblies to convene at a later date, to elect their Deputy Presidents and a Deputy Mayor.