East Sepik Province


East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 433,481 people and is 43,426 km square in size.

History

was appointed as East Sepik's first premier by Prime Minister Michael Somare upon the creation of the provincial government in 1976. Dambui remained interim premier until 1979, when he became East Sepik's permanent premier with a full term. He remained in office until 1983.

Geography

Wewak, the provincial capital, is located on the coast of East Sepik. There are a scattering of islands off shore, and coastal ranges dominate the landscape just inland of the coast. The remainder of the province's geography is dominated by the Sepik River, which is one of the largest rivers in the world in terms of water flow and is known for flooding—the river's level can alter by as much as five metres in the course of the year as it rises and falls. The southern areas of the province are taken up by the Hunstein Range and other mountain ranges which form the central cordillera and feed the Sepik River.

Districts and LLGs

Each province in Papua New Guinea has one or more districts, and each district has one or more Local Level Government areas. For census purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.
DistrictDistrict CapitalLLG Name
Ambunti-Dreikikier DistrictAmbuntiAmbunti Rural
Ambunti-Dreikikier DistrictAmbuntiTunap-Hunstein Range Rural
Ambunti-Dreikikier DistrictAmbuntiGawanga Rural
Ambunti-Dreikikier DistrictAmbuntiDreikikier Rural
Angoram DistrictAngoramAngoram-Middle Sepik Rural
Angoram DistrictAngoramKeram Rural
Angoram DistrictAngoramKarawari Rural
Angoram DistrictAngoramMarienberg
Angoram DistrictAngoramYuat Rural
Maprik DistrictMaprikAlbiges-Mablep Rural
Maprik DistrictMaprikBumbita-Muhian Rural
Maprik DistrictMaprikMaprik-Wora Rural
Maprik DistrictMaprikYamil-Tamaui Rural
Wewak DistrictWewakBoikin-Dagua Rural
Wewak DistrictWewakTurubu Rural
Wewak DistrictWewakWewak Islands Rural
Wewak DistrictWewakWewak Local
Wewak DistrictWewakWewak Urban
Wosera-Gawi DistrictWoseraBurui-Kunai Rural
Wosera-Gawi DistrictWoseraGawi Rural
Wosera-Gawi DistrictWoseraNorth Wosera Rural
Wosera-Gawi DistrictWoseraSouth Wosera Rural
Yangoru-Saussia DistrictYangoruEast Yangoru Rural
Yangoru-Saussia DistrictYangoruNumbor Rural
Yangoru-Saussia DistrictYangoruSausso Rural
Yangoru-Saussia DistrictYangoruWest Yangoru Rural

Provincial leaders

The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1976 to 1995. Following reforms taking effect that year, the national government reassumed some powers, and the role of Premier was replaced by a position of Governor, to be held by the winner of the province-wide seat in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

Premiers (1976–1995)

PremierTerm
Cherobim Dambui1976–1983
Jonathan Sengi1983–1987
Bruce Samban1987–1991
Provincial government suspended1991–1993
Alex Anisi1993–1995

Governors (1995–present)

PremierTerm
Michael Somare1995–1999
Arthur Somare1999–2003
Henry Ariro2003–2005
Peter Waranaka2005–2012
Michael Somare2012-2017
Allan Bird2017–present

Members of the National Parliament

The province and each district is represented by a Member of the National Parliament. There is one provincial electorate and each district is an open electorate.
PremierTerm
East Sepik ProvincialAllan Bird
Ambunti-Dreikikir OpenJohnson Wapunai
Angoram OpenSalio Waipo
Maprik OpenJohn Simon
Wewak OpenKevin Isifu
Wosera-Gaui OpenJoseph Yopyyopy
Yangoru-Saussia OpenRichard Maru