Gary Juffa

Juffa has written of his childhood, where he accompanied his mother, who was a family planning coordinator, as she traveled around Papua New Guinea for employment.[2] He lived across the country and attended a number of schools, but spent a formative period of time in Kokoda with his grandparents.[3] He attended University of Papua New Guinea.

Juffa entered the public service, joining the PNG Customs Department. He rose through the ranks to become Commissioner of Customs.[4] He resigned in 2011 and ran successfully for Parliament as Governor of Oro Province in 2012. He was re-elected in 2017.

Juffa is an outspoken opponent of logging activity in his home province and across the country.[5] In March 2018, Juffa led a shut down of controversial logging operations at Collingwood Bay, seizing equipment and arresting allegedly illegal workers.[6] He has repeatedly called for action against illegal logging on customary land in Parliament.[7]

Juffa is also an outspoken supporter of the Free Papua Movement.[8] Websites and social media supporting Indonesia's occupation of West Papua have targeted Juffa, and claim Papua New Guinea's record on corruption suggests independence for West Papua would create a future that "is nothing than bleak" [sic].[9]

Juffa is vehemently opposed to the removal of World War II relics from Papua New Guinea. He believes that relics already removed, such as the B-17 Bomber Swamp Ghost, should be returned to the country.[10]

Juffa maintains a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram presence and is active on social media.[11]