Robert Agarobe

The Honourable
Robert Agarobe
MP
Governor of Central Province
In office
2017 – August 2022
Preceded byKila Haoda
Succeeded byRufina Peter
Member of National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
In office
2017 – August 2022
Preceded byKila Haoda
Succeeded byRufina Peter
ConstituencyCentral Provincial
Personal details
NationalityPapua New Guinean
Political partyPangu Party (2017–)
Other political
affiliations
Independent (2017)
Alma materPort Moresby Technical College
Websiterobertagarobe.com

Robert Agarobe is a Papua New Guinea businessman and politician. He was the Governor of Central Province[1][2] and a Member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, but was unseated by Rufina Peter in the 2022 Papua New Guinean general election.[3]

Early life

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Agarobe was born at Sopas Hospital in Enga Province. He attended Gabagaba Primary School and Kwikila High Secondary. He obtained a certificate in Trade and Aircraft Maintenance from Port Moresby Technical College. He then became an apprentice with Aircair Ltd in 1984.[4] He became a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Through his career, he worked for Islands Nationair, Heli Niugini, Helitech, PNGDF Air Transport Wing, RPNGC Police Air Wing, Helicopter Resources Australia, and Berjaya Air. In September 1998, he founded his own company, Helifix Aviation.[4]

Political career

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He was first elected to the National Parliament at the 2017 general election, running as an independent candidate. Following his election, he joined the Pangu Party. He then became the Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee.[5] On 24 May 2019, he moved from the Government to the Opposition.[6]

Agarobe has described his vision to move provincial government offices from the National Capital District, which is surrounded by Central Province, into towns such as Kwikila, Kupiano, Bereina and Tapini.[7] This has brought Agarobe in conflict with representatives of National Capital District, particularly Motu Koita Assembly Chairman and Deputy Governor of NCD, Dadi Toka Jr, who has been openly critical of Agarobe's claims to Motu Koitabu tribal lands. [8]

References

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  1. ^ emtvonline (2018-12-05). "Central Governor, Robert Agarobe Pushes for Decentralisation". EMTV Online. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  2. ^ "Wouwou rejoins PNG breakaway camp as O'Neill loses more support in crisis". Asia Pacific Report. May 6, 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  3. ^ "PNC Party's Woman Candidate, Rufina Peter wins Central Governor Seat". PNG Today. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Robert Agarobe". Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  5. ^ "Hon. Robert Agarobe, MP - Tenth Parliament of Papua New Guinea". www.parliament.gov.pg. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  6. ^ National, The (2019-05-24). "Move to Opposition for good of Central, Agarobe says". The National. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  7. ^ "Robert Agarobe". Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  8. ^ "Koiari LLG calls on Dadi Toka Jr to apologise". Retrieved 14 July 2019.