Late Sir Mekere Morauta

“He was a close friend, my talaigu, and a colleague in the public service and Parliament over 54 years,” stated the fourth prime minister.

“Mekere and I were in the first intake of students at the University of Papua New Guinea. We were in the same class in a number of subjects, including economics, in which he excelled far better than me. He was an outstanding student, and I could see then he would emerge as an influential leader of Papua New Guinea in the critical period leading up to Independence in 1975, and a national leader thereafter.

In its first circular instruction of 2021, the Department of Personnel Management’s acting secretary, Vele Ravugamini, said January 8^th is an approved public holiday and it is important that public servants are part of this occasion.

All department heads, heads of statutory organisations and other agency heads in the National Capital District have been requested to release their staff to attend the funeral service at the Sione Kami Memorial Church.

Relatives, family members and Government officials, including Prime Minister James Marape and Opposition Leader Belden Namah, were at the airport to welcome the body of the late Sir Mekere.

His body will be at the funeral home while his family will be under home quarantine for seven days.

On Monday January 4^th, 2021, he will lie in State in the Grand Hall at Parliament House for final viewing by all members of parliament.