HON. BART PHILEMON, MP

Minister for Finance and Treasury

Bart Philemon was born on 16 April 1945, at Butibam, Morobe Province and was educated to tertiary level.

He joined Air Niugini and was employed as Assistant General Manager of Operations and later became Chairman of the National Airlines Commission.

In 1991 he was appointed Chairman of the South Pacific Games Foundation and took charge of the South Pacific Games which were held in September of that year.

Mr Philemon contested the seat of Lae Open in June 1992 general elections and elected to the 5th National Parliament. Prior to his election Mr Philemon was a businessman and member of the Morobe Provincial government.

He has been re-elected at subsequent general elections. From July 1997 to July 1999, he was Shadow Minister for Finance and served on the Public Accounts Committee from March 1998 to July 1998 and Standing Orders Committee from March 1998 to July 1999.

Mr Philemon was appointed Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation following the formation of the Morauta government in July 1999, after the Skate government resigned from office. He served until 12 December 2000 then moved to the Foreign Affairs and Bougainville Affairs Ministry. He retained the Foreign Affairs portfolio from 18 January 2001 until the removal of the National Alliance party from the Morauta coalition government on 17 May 2001.

He then joined the Opposition in November 2001 and appointed Shadow Minister for Transport, Works and Civil Aviation.

Following his election in 2002 and the election of Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister, on 5 August 2002, Mr Philemon took charge of Treasury and Finance, Privatisation and Agriculture ministries in the caretaker cabinet.

On 13 August 2002, Mr Philemon was confirmed to the Treasury and Finance portfolio.

A member of the National Alliance Party.