Okuk: a mind

of his own

National Party leader, lam bakey Okuk, the other leading light in the new coalition government, is one of the most controver sial politicians on the PNG scene.

After a stormy relation ship in Cabinet with Michael Somare in the early days of independ ence, Okuk became Lead

er of the Opposition in 1978. In 1980 he and Sir Julius Chan toppled So mare and Okuk became deputy prime minister and minister for civil aviation -the post in which he won an enduring reputation as a man with a mind of his own.

A furious row with the state airline, Air Niugini, over the sacking of general manager, Gerald Fallscheer, led to a strike by all airline staff in protest over what they called ’’political interference.” A court later ruled that Mr Fallscheer was dismissed unfairly.

At the same time Okuk was plunged into more controversy by signing a deal with Canada for Dash 7 aircraft -- which Air Niugi ni did not want - without Cabinet approval.

“The government’s

bloody procedures. I have got a good deal for PNG,” he said.

He has taken over the primary industry portfolio.