East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 450,530 people (2011 census) and is 43,426 km square in size. Its density is 10.4 people per square kilometer.
History Cherubim Dambui 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 (LLG) areas. For census purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea
District District Capital LLG Name Ambunti-Dreikikier District Ambunti Ambunti Rural Tunap-Hunstein Range Rural Gawanga Rural Dreikikier Rural Angoram District Angoram Angoram-Middle Sepik Rural Keram Rural Karawari Rural Marienberg Yuat Rural Maprik District Maprik Albiges-Mablep Rural Bumbita-Muhian Rural Maprik-Wora Rural Yamil-Tamaui Rural Wewak District Wewak Boikin-Dagua Rural Turubu Rural Wewak Islands Rural Wewak Local Wewak Urban Wosera-Gawi District Wosera Burui-Kunai Rural Gawi Rural North Wosera Rural South Wosera Rural Yangoru-Saussia District Yangoru East Yangoru Rural Numbor Rural Sausso Rural West 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)
Premier Term Cherubim Dambui 1976–1983 Jonathan Sengi 1983–1987 Bruce Samban 1987–1991 Provincial government suspended 1991–1993 Alex Anisi 1993–1995
Governors (1995–present)
Governor Term Michael Somare 1995–1999 Arthur Somare 1999–2003 Henry Ariro 2003–2005 Peter Waranaka 2005–2012 Michael Somare 2012-2017 Allan Bird 2017–2022 Allan Bird 2022-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.
Electorate Member East Sepik Provincial Allan Bird Ambunti-Dreikikir Open Johnson Wapunai Angoram Open Salio Waipo Maprik Open Gabriel Kapris Wewak Open Stanley Muts Samban Wosera-Gaui Open Joseph Yopyyopy Yangoru-Saussia Open Richard Maru
References
Bibliography Hanson, L.W., Allen, B.J., Bourke, R.M. and McCarthy, T.J. (2001). Papua New Guinea Rural Development Handbook. Land Management Group, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra. Available as a 30 Megabyte PDF.
External links
Anthony Forge Films and Recordings From the Anthony Forge Papers. MSS 411. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Stephen Leavitt Fieldnotes and Recordings. MSS 27. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.