By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV Online
Papua New Guinea’s first female governor and first female parliamentarian from the Highlands region, Julie Soso, was officially welcomed by the Opposition today; bringing the number of MP’s in the Opposition to a total of eight, thus far.
The Governor for Eastern Highlands revealed that prior to her move; she had consulted her team in the province, which included her campaign managers and husband.
Governor Soso, a former radio broadcaster, advocate for women’s rights, confronting women’s inequities and issues faced in PNG, and former president of the Women’s Council and deputy chair of the Eastern Highlands AIDS council, emphasised the responsibility leaders had in making ‘good’ decisions for the future of the nation and the eight million people.
“I had to think of the 580, 000 people I represent in my province”, she said.
Soso stated that as a female leader in parliament, she represented women in the country and had made her decision based on religious, Christian principles, on behalf of all women in PNG, and her family.
“I had to think of what is going on in politics of PNG today. I had observed and watched and it frightened me to move because I was afraid of what might happen”, the governor said.
Leader of the Opposition and Vanimo-Green MP, Belden Namah, in welcoming the governor, stated that the leadership and courage shown by Soso was highly commendable.
Namah remarked on the boldness of Soso’s decision, stating that she has shown Papua New Guinea, and all women leaders, that women can make bold decisions, as such.
He described her decision to move to the Opposition as being tough, but a very important one at that.
Governor Soso, a member of the Triumph Heritage Empowerment (T.H.E) Party joins party leader and Kandep MP, Don Polye and deputy party leaders’ Kikori MP, Mark Maipakai and James Gau, Rai Coast MP; who along with Lagaip-Porgera MP, Nixon Mangape, were the first group of parliamentarians to join the opposition ranks on the 18th of November, 2014.
