Sir Mekere Morauta

Sir Mekere’s body to return home: Chairman

“The late Sir Mekere’s body will return home to the people he served for so long,” Tkatchenko said.

“Details of the arrival of the late Sir Mekere will be released soon followed by protocols of the state funeral.

“I am thankful we have the privilege of providing this revered reformer, Prime Minister and statesman, the honour of a full state funeral.

“I would like to thank sincerely, Lady Roslyn, son James and the family of Sir Mekere, for allowing our country to grieve, reflect, thank and honour him, our seventh Prime Minister.”

 

Sir Mekere’s funeral to be in Brisbane

Lady Roslyn Morauta and James Morauta advised that their late husband and father will be farewelled at 2pm at St Mary’s Anglican Church Kangaroo Point.

The funeral will be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/saintmaryskpt, for all family and friends in Papua New Guinea to watch.

“Owing to current COVID-19 circumstances, it is not possible to arrange an official haus krai at this time,” said the family.

Lady Roslyn announces Sir Mekere’s passing

She said funeral arrangements will be advised at a later date.

Sir Mekere was born in 1946, in Kukipi Village, Malalaua District, East Gulf, to Morauta Hasu and Morikoai Elavo. His father, Morauta Hasu, was a leader of the Toaripi people of East Gulf, a local government councillor and deacon of the London Missionary Society (later United Church). He was prominent in the Cooperative Movement for the Toaripi Association.

The late Sir Mekere was the first graduate in economics from the University of Papua New Guinea.

Sir Mekere renews call for election commission of inquiry

The report is a comprehensive account of the election, based on observer teams led by Papua New Guinean experts who covered 69 electorates in all four regions with detailed studies of 44 electorates. 

The report concluded that elections in PNG continue to trend in the wrong direction.

PM responds to APEC cost query

He was asked by Moresby North-West MP, Sir Mekere Morauta, to clarify the extravagant spending and huge cost of hosting APEC last November, which the Opposition claimed was about K5 billion.

In response, the PM said: “How in the world would we be spending K5 billion when our own annual budget is around K11 or K12 billion?

“He’s just ridiculous, Mr Speaker. Ridiculous. Very unbecoming of leaders to just suggest and make up stories,” said O’Neill amidst loud protests from the Opposition.

MP calls for probe into APEC luxury cars scandal

“Enough public information, gathered by myself and others, is now available to justify high-level investigations into the spending by the Prime Minister, Mr Peter O’Neill, the APEC Minister, Mr Justin Tkatchenko, and the APEC Authority CEO, Mr Christopher Hawkins,” Sir Mekere said in a statement today.

“This information indicates a strong likelihood that the Leadership Code, the Constitution, the Criminal Code and other laws have been broken.

Political commentaries undermining democracy: Baki

Commissioner Baki made the comments after media claims by the Member of Parliament for Moresby North-West, Sir Mekere Morauta, about a discredited attempt to serve an arrest warrant against the Prime Minister four years ago.

“Commissioner Baki said: “Media claims by the Member for Moresby North-West are unfortunate and misleading and only serve to undermine public confidence in law enforcement operations.

Morauta concerned with APEC preparations cost

Sir Mekere claimed that billions of kina have been spent directly and indirectly in preparing for the APEC Summit in November in Port Moresby.

Sir Mekere, when raising concerns during Parliament today, described the Government’s spending as unnecessary.

He added that the nation and the people are on high expectation of the immediate and long term benefits to be unleashed beginning in November during the APEC Summit.

He further described the people’s expectations as ‘king tide prosperity’ that will drown out the nation’s sorrow and improve our economy.

PM condemns Sir Mek’s claims

Sir Mekere said it is time for the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, to stop talking and start acting, to stop blaming others for the mess the nation is in, and to introduce an immediate program of reform and reconstruction.

PM O’Neill in response to Sir Mekere’s statement told this newsroom that the process of Government is well entrenched and cannot be influenced or controlled by one person.

“This is totally rubbish”.

O’Neill further explained that the difference between Sir Mekere’s leadership and his was that he always get things done.

Tentative dates for MPs’ contempt case

The trial will see Bryan Kramer, Sir Mekere Morauta, Patrick Pruaitch and Kerenga Kua answer to allegations of contempt that are being raised by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill regarding issues that were before the courts.

Twivey Lawyers today informed the Supreme Court there are seven distinct allegations leveled against each MP.

Only Vanimo-Green MP, Belden Namah, is yet to be served the contempt motion.