Ano Pala
Encyclopedia
Ano Pala MP
is a Papua New Guinea
n politician
. He is Member of Parliament
for Rigo (in Central Province
), and is a member of the National Alliance Party
. In May 2010, he was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Michael Somare
's Cabinet
, replacing Allan Marat
who had resigned after breaching Cabinet solidarity by criticising government policy. Pala had, until then, served as parliamentary secretary to Dr Puka Temu
, the Minister of Lands and Physical Planning and Mining. In July 2010, he was one of four ministers to defect to the Opposition in an unsuccessful attempt to bring down the government, but later rejoined the government ranks and was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.
At the start of August 2011, he again defected to the Opposition, and this time helped to successfully bring down the government in a parliamentary motion of no confidence
. Peter O'Neill
became Prime Minister, and appointed Pala as his Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration.
Pala had previously served as parliamentary clerk, but resigned that position to stand (successfully) for Parliament in the 2007 general election
.
In 2009, he publicly supported Eastern Highlands
Provincial Governor Malcolm Smith Kela who petitioned the government to "intervene to protect our citizens of [sic] the action of Asian businessmen", whom he claimed had "exploited locals" by selling "cheap goods and counterfeit products", and by forcing employees to work long hours for low wages. Pala added that locals should be assisted in setting up their own businesses: there was a "need to support our education system, to create some of the basics of how to make money, how to run a business and how to understand the commercial and business system in the schools".
National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral national legislature in Papua New Guinea. It was first created in 1964 as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea, but gained its current name with the granting of independence in 1975....
is a Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is Member of Parliament
National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral national legislature in Papua New Guinea. It was first created in 1964 as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea, but gained its current name with the granting of independence in 1975....
for Rigo (in Central Province
Central Province (Papua New Guinea)
Central Province is a province in Papua New Guinea located on the southern coast of the country. It has a population of 183,983 people and is in size. The seat of government of Central Province, which is located within the National Capital District outside the province, is the Port Moresby suburb...
), and is a member of the National Alliance Party
National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea)
The National Alliance Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1995 by Bernard Narokobi, Moi Avei, Bart Philemon and Masket Iangalio, who invited Sir Michael Somare to lead them to the 1997 elections after he had been sacked as leader of the Pangu Party.National Alliance...
. In May 2010, he was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
's Cabinet
Cabinet of Papua New Guinea
The Cabinet of Papua New Guinea functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the government system of Papua New Guinea...
, replacing Allan Marat
Allan Marat
Allan S. M. Marat CBE is a Papua New Guinean politician. He served as Minister for Justice and Attorney General in Prime Minister Michael Somare's Cabinet from August 2007 to May 2010. In May 2010, he publicly stated that major mining projects in the country brought little benefit to local...
who had resigned after breaching Cabinet solidarity by criticising government policy. Pala had, until then, served as parliamentary secretary to Dr Puka Temu
Puka Temu
Sir Puka Temu, KBE, CMG is a Papua New Guinean politician. From 2007 to 2010, he was deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Lands, Physical Planning and Mining in the government led by Prime Minister Michael Somare. Temu is a member of the National Alliance Party. In July 2010, he spearheaded an...
, the Minister of Lands and Physical Planning and Mining. In July 2010, he was one of four ministers to defect to the Opposition in an unsuccessful attempt to bring down the government, but later rejoined the government ranks and was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.
At the start of August 2011, he again defected to the Opposition, and this time helped to successfully bring down the government in a parliamentary motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
. Peter O'Neill
Peter O'Neill
Peter Charles Paire O'Neill, CMG is the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. He is the leader of the People's National Congress and represents the constituency of Ialibu-Pangia.-Biography:...
became Prime Minister, and appointed Pala as his Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration.
Pala had previously served as parliamentary clerk, but resigned that position to stand (successfully) for Parliament in the 2007 general election
Papua New Guinean general election, 2007
General elections were held in Papua New Guinea from 30 June 2007 to 14 July 2007.For the first time, the election did not use first past the post , but rather Limited Preferential Voting, in which voters number...
.
In 2009, he publicly supported Eastern Highlands
Eastern Highlands
The Eastern or 'East African Highlands is a mountain range in the east of Zimbabwe and one of 4 distinct physiographic divisions on the African continent.-Location and description:...
Provincial Governor Malcolm Smith Kela who petitioned the government to "intervene to protect our citizens of [sic] the action of Asian businessmen", whom he claimed had "exploited locals" by selling "cheap goods and counterfeit products", and by forcing employees to work long hours for low wages. Pala added that locals should be assisted in setting up their own businesses: there was a "need to support our education system, to create some of the basics of how to make money, how to run a business and how to understand the commercial and business system in the schools".