New NCC board sworn in

A new Board for National Cultural Commission was sworn in today in Port Moresby after six years of not having one.

The ex-officio members of the board include Prime Minister and National Executive Council department secretary Ambassador Ivan Pomaleu as chairman, Executive Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of UPNG, Professor Leo Marai as Deputy Chairman, Director of National Museum and Art Gallery Dr. Andrew Moutu, Executive Director UNESCO PNG Joseph Auli and NCC executive Director Steven Enomb Kilanda.

The non-ex-officio members are former trustee of National Museum and Art Gallery, Dr Michael Augustine Mel, Director of Enga Cultural centre (Takeanda), Akii Tumu, and founder of PNG Fashion and Design Week, Janet Ronald Sios. They were sworn in at the Crowne Hotel by Waigani District Court magistrate, Billy Pidu.

Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture isi Henry Leonard, who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony said he was confident with the board comprising persons with high caliber and vast experiences who will provide the commission and the ministry with sound advice, guidance and direction.He thanked the members for accepting the invitation to become members of the board and tasked them to take on the challenges ahead.

The Minister said he was grateful that the new board for NCC has been finally established and that he was looking forward to seeing it endorsing the national cultural policy which never existed since the inception of NCC in 1994. Board chairman Ambassador Pomaleu

thanked the Minister for providing strong leadership within a short space of time having a board set up and a policy to be endorsed soon by the National Executive Council. He also thanked executive director Steven Enomb Kilanda for his tireless efforts in ensuring the establishment of the board, and other major achievements in the recent past.

“I acknowledge the caliber of people on the board. They’re highly reputable and highly educated and experienced people, and that’s important,” he said. Amb. Pomaleu said the board would provide the oversight and leadership diligently going forward.

Release Date: March 22, 2022