By JACK NOAH YAMAHA
DURING 2017 National General Election, so many political parties were mushrooming in their quest to win seats to enter the parliament and to represent their people in the electorates around entire country.
In that year, the one, People’s National Congress (PNC) was a dominant force under the incumbent party leader and Ialibu Pangia MP and former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill who usurped power from Pangu Pati in an unprecedented impasse in 2011.
Thus, many unknown parties sprouted like a withered weed after a long spell during rainy season. One of them being the Paradise Kingdom Party lead by a lady name Grace Kila Hasavi who claims to have ‘billions’ in offshore banks. She promised to give to candidates and surely did so many aspiring politicians lured through this cleverly orchestrated gimmick and in an attempt to stand for seats around PNG.
During that period, in-law of mine introduced to me a man, a stocky built person that one would easily be mistaken for a Highlander by the look of his physical complexion and the way he presents speeches with well-articulated oratory styles.
Moreover, we introduced ourselves to each other and realized that he actually wasn’t from where my first assumption was but from Telefomin District of Sandaun Province.
And there he is, Jacky Waipin Timdan, 52-year-old educationists cum-politician from Imillian Lanim clan from Mitirock Village in the Oksapmin LLG area.
In the same year (2017), Jacky tried his best to contest Telefomin open seat under the infamous ‘Paradise Kingdom Party’ who promised to fund with ‘billions of kinas’ which never came to fruition. As a result, all his plans disappeared in a thin-air due to funding constraints, except last 2022 election which he contested unsuccessfully against incumbent Works and Highways Minister Solan Mirisim.
Much of his character resemblances were that of the highlands people and even myself insisted at a first instance in accepting his origin when we first met and introduce each other.
Unlike every other Min Tribesman, Jacky seems to be quite different and real cool dude to go along with. His handy proposal write-ups have gotten few SMEs on the roll which he continuous to assist few people when they needed the most beside his own job.
Min people in general are very friendly and seemingly meek, submissive and always try to avoid confrontations and aggressive behaviors.
Few months later, during my trip to Tabubil in last December, I caught up again with the guy himself and we spent four-days together.
The small mining town seems to be made up of Oksapmin or ‘Oksy’ in numbers which were quite populous in town apart from others such as Kopiagos of Hela who were also significantly big in numbers and rest were spouses and families of Ok Tedi Mine staff.
Jacky was employed by Umeng Investment Limited as assistant operations manager, the company which is a sub-contractor to Ok Tedi Mine engaged in minor works in and around the mine area.
