04/12/2025
💪🎓
I’ve watched Kepas Wali contest election after election for the NTI Open seat, losing to Byron and Walter, yet he never gives up. Over the years, I’ve also noticed something: many candidates disappear completely after losing once. But this man continues to show up, election after election, despite every defeat.
I’m not saying I support him, but honestly, we might not be seeing what he sees. A person doesn’t keep standing unless he believes in a vision or plan bigger than himself. When I sat down and really looked into his background, I realised something important: Kepas Wali is one of the pioneer Petroleum Engineers in Papua New Guinea-actually the first qualified PNG Petroleum Engineer.
He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Papua New Guinea and a Postgraduate in Petroleum Engineering from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
He is also a prominent national figure, having served in major executive roles, including:
National Petroleum Engineer with Kutubu Oil.
Managing Director – PNG Ports and Harbours Authority,
First Managing Director of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA),
Chairman of PNG Ports Corporation, and
Executive General Manager – Stakeholder Relations and Corporate Affairs for Harmony Gold South East Asia.
And when I compare that level of expertise and leadership to the MPs we’ve been choosing over him… well, to be honest, none of our current New Ireland MPs come close to his intellectual capacity or professional background. Yet we keep skipping him.
He sacrificed his executive position so he could contest for you - that is true commitment and leadership.
New Ireland Province has two major gold mines, and we need leaders with this level of mining expertise to guide the province forward.
Now a by-election is here again, and Kepas has once again put his hand up to contest. At the end of the day, it’s up to the people of New Ireland to decide who they want to lead.
