steeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution: 16 September 1975

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Wiwa KOROWI (since NA November 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (since 30 August
1994); Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September 1994)
cabinet: National Executive Council; appointed by the governor on
recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Parliament: (sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly)
elections last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM
17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association
with political parties is fluid

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu
Party), Jack GENIA; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI;
People's Action Party (PAP), Akoka DOI; People's Progress Party (PPP),
Sir Julius CHAN; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP),
Galeva KWARARA; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; Melanesian Alliance
(MA), Fr. John MOMIS

Member of: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, NAM
(observer), SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kepas Isimel WATANGIA
chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20009
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. TEARE
embassy: Armit Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, or APO AE 96553
telephone: [675] 211455, 211594, 211654
FAX: [675] 213423

Flag: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper
triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the
lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered

@Papua New Guinea:Economy

Overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources,
but exploitation has been h