De Kewanu (born 7 June 1965) is a Papua New Guinean politician. He was a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2012 to 2017, representing the electorate of Mendi Open, firstly as an independent (2012) then the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party (2013-2014) and then finally shifted to the People's National Congress (2014–present). He was Vice-Minister for Works and Implementation in the government of Peter O'Neill.[1][2]
Kewanu was an accountant who ran a successful accounting practice in PNG known as HLB Niugini before entering politics. He also had a run for election in 1997 but was unsuccessful.[3] He was elected to the National Parliament as an independent candidate at the 2012 election, defeating Isaac Joseph.[4] Kewanu was appointed Vice-Minister for Works and Implementation after the election.[5] He supported calls for the relaxation of Australian visa laws for those coming from Papua New Guinea.[6] After a year in office, he was praised for effectiveness in service delivery, having boosted road construction efforts and funding for local schools.[7][8] In May 2014, he joined the governing People's National Congress.[9] He lost his seat to former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Nali at the 2017 election.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Hon. De Kewanu, MP". National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ "Nominations By Electorate" (PDF). PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ "Kewanu brings a new dawn for people of Mendi". PNG Post-Courier. 27 July 2012.
- ^ "55 PNG MPs declared as counting continues". Radio New Zealand News International. 23 July 2012.
- ^ "Minister praises $US6 billion China loan". PNG Post Courier. 8 October 2012.
- ^ "Easy access to Asia, not Aust". PNG Post Courier. 11 October 2012.
- ^ "Mendi MP commended". PNG Post Courier. 28 June 2013.
- ^ "Kewanu praised for services". PNG Post Courier. 10 September 2013.
- ^ "Ruling party grows". PNG Post Courier. 7 May 2014.
- ^ "Nali, Ninigi declared in SHP". PNG Post-Courier. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.