Patrick Nisira

Patrick Nisira
Vice-President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Assumed office
25 September 2020
PresidentIshmael Toroama
Preceded byRaymond Masono
In office
10 June 2010 – 22 February 2017
PresidentJohn Momis
Preceded byEzekiel Massat
Succeeded byRaymond Masono
Minister of Economic Development
Assumed office
2 October 2020
PresidentIshmael Toroama
Member of the Bougainville House of Representatives
Assumed office
2005
ConstituencyHalia
Personal details
Born1972 (age 51–52)
Territory of New Guinea
Political partyIndependent

Patrick Nisira (born 1972) is a Bougainvillean politician. He was Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville under President John Momis from 10 June 2010 to 22 February 2017.[1][2][3] He was reappointed as vice president by Ishmael Toroama on 25 September 2020.[4]

Nisira represents the Halia constituency in North Bougainville[1] as an independent.[5] He previously served as the Works Minister in the government of former President James Tanis.[1] Tanis was defeated for re-election by John Momis in the 2010 presidential election.[1] Nisira was one of the few members of Tanis' cabinet to win re-election in the simultaneous general election,[6] defeating challenger Damian Kora with 1,764 votes to Kora's 512 votes.[7]

Newly elected President John Momis appointed Nisira as his vice-president on 10 June 2010—the same date as his presidential inauguration.[1] Nisira served a five-year term as vice-president and was appointed to a second term in 2015. Nisira was also appointed as Health Minister within Momis's cabinet on 23 June 2010.[8]

Nisira resigned the Vice-Presidency in February 2017 in order to contest the 2017 Papua New Guinean national election.[2]

In 2018, Nisira was appointed a Commissioner of the Bougainville Referendum Commission. In that role, he is working as part of the commission to ensure that the referendum on Bougainville's long term political future is conducted freely and fairly. He is one of five Commissioners, that includes former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern as chair.

On 2 October 2020 Nisira was appointed Minister of Economic Development in the cabinet of Ishmael Toroama.[9]

  1. ^ a b c d e Laukai, Aloysius (2008-06-11). "Momis sworn in, Caretaker announced". New Dawn FM 95.3. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  2. ^ a b "New ABG Vice President". Autonomous Region of Bougainville. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Nominations By Electorate" (PDF). PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  4. ^ "STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF THE CARETAKER GOVERNMENT". Autonomous Bougainville Government. 25 September 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020.
  5. ^ Laukai, Aloysius (2008-06-09). "2nd Autonomous Bougainville Government House of Representatives". New Dawn FM 95.3. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  6. ^ Laukai, Aloysius (2008-06-04). "Sitting politicians routed in Bougainville vote". Radio New Zealand International. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  7. ^ Laukai, Aloysius (2008-06-10). "Minister Returns". New Dawn FM 95.3. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  8. ^ Laukai, Aloysius (2008-06-23). "Momis Appoints His Ministers". New Dawn FM 95.3. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  9. ^ "Bougainville's Toroama forms a 14 member Cabinet". RNZ. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.