Speaker’s office denies rumor of Pomat’s hospitalisation

The Office of the Speaker of the National Parliament dismissed false and misleading widespread social media rumors claiming that Speaker Job Pomat collapsed and was rushed to the Pacific International Hospital.

Responding to NBC News queries, the Speaker’s Office spokesperson Rodney Kamus confirmed that Mr Pomat is in good health and was en route to Port Moresby from Lorengau.

“The Speaker is well and is flying in today from Lorengau,” Kamus said. “He is in good health and will assume the role of Acting Governor-General in the absence of His Excellency Sir Bob Dadae.

“Rumors circulating on social media that Mr Pomat is ill and collapsed are totally untrue,” he said. “It is fake news from people with ulterior motives.”

Kamus added that police are investigating the source of the post, and the person responsible will be identified and dealt with accordingly.

“We urge the public to refrain from further spreading this false information,” he said.

Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae is currently in Germany on an official visit to attend celebrations marking Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence anniversary, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany.

Sir Bob is accompanied by the Head Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea [ELCPNG], Jack Urame. The two are visiting several historic Lutheran sites, including Neuendettelsau, regarded as the birthplace of PNG’s 138-year connection with Germany.

The Lutheran Church’s presence in PNG dates back to 1886, when German missionary Johann Flierl established the first Lutheran mission in Finschhafen, Morobe Province, under the Neuendettelsau Missionary Society. Since then, the Church has grown significantly, particularly in Madang and other regions.

Speaker Pomat will serve as Acting Governor General until Sir Bob Dadae returns on July 27.