Sandaun Province


Sandaun Province is the north-westernmost province of Papua New Guinea. It covers an area of 35,920 km² and has a population of 248,411. The capital is Vanimo. In July 1998 the area surrounding the town Aitape was hit by an enormous tsunami caused by a Magnitude 7.0 earthquake which killed over 2,000 people. The five villages along the west coast of Vanimo towards the International Border are namely; Lido, Waromo, Yako, Musu and Wutung.

Name

Sandaun is a Tok Pisin word derived from English "sun down," since the province is located in the west of the country, where the sun sets.

Districts and LLGs

There are four districts in the province. 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
Aitape-Lumi DistrictAitapeAitape East
Aitape-Lumi DistrictAitapeEast Wapei Rural
Aitape-Lumi DistrictAitapeAitape West
Aitape-Lumi DistrictAitapeWest Wapei Rural
Nuku DistrictNukuMawase Rural
Nuku DistrictNukuPalmai Rural
Nuku DistrictNukuYangkok Rural
Nuku DistrictNukuMaimai Wanwan Rural
Telefomin DistrictTelefominNamea Rural
Telefomin DistrictTelefominOksapmin Rural
Telefomin DistrictTelefominTelefomin Rural
Telefomin DistrictTelefominYapsie Rural
Vanimo-Green River DistrictVanimoAmanab Rural
Vanimo-Green River DistrictVanimoBewani-Wutung-Onei Rural
Vanimo-Green River DistrictVanimoGreen River Rural
Vanimo-Green River DistrictVanimoVanimo Urban
Vanimo-Green River DistrictVanimoWalsa Rural

Provincial leaders

The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1978 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 (1978–1995)

PremierTerm
Jacob Talis1978–1980
Adam Amod1980–1982
Andrew Komboni1982–1984
Paul Langro1984–1987
provincial government suspended1987–1988
Egbert Yalu1988–1992
Aloitch Peien1993–1995

Governors (1995–present)

PremierTerm
John Tekwie1995–2000
Robert Sakias2000–2002
Carlos Yuni2002–2007
Simon Solo2007–2012
Amkat Mai2012–2013, 2015–2017
Tony Wouwou2017–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
West Sepik ProvincialTony Wouwou
Aitape-Lumi OpenPatrick Pruaitch
Nuku OpenJoe Sungi
Telefomin OpenSolan Mirisim
Vanimo-Green River OpenBelden Namah