State Funeral

A traditional farewell song by the Tolai Choir was sang as families paid their final respect at the burial site. 

Prime Minister James Marape delivered a short keynote address and a final remark, honouring Sir Rabbie for his commitment to serving the people of East New Britain and Papua New Guinea. 

He said late Sir Rabbie was a true and great leader of this nation. At the State Funeral Sir Rabbie was highly praised for his services and commitment to PNG.

Speaker of the House, Job Pomat received the casket from the pallbearers and ceremonial guards.

The late Deputy Prime Minister was received and honored with the traditional lie-in-state ceremony for an hour where Members of Parliament and other state heads paid their respects.

At 12:26pm, the casket of late Basil left the House of Parliament and was transported to the funeral home.

At 2pm today, the casket was brought to Sir John Guise Stadium for the State Funeral Service.

Minister in charge of National Events, Justin Tkatchenko, informed the media this afternoon that for the next three days, a national haus krai will be held to honour the national leader. 
 
On Monday, the haus krai will begin at 5pm the Sir John Guise stadium. The public is welcome to attend. 
 
On Tuesday, a lie-in-state ceremony will be accorded to the late Deputy Prime Minister at the grandhall, Parliament house followed by a State Funeral at 2pm. 
 

Warne, 52, was holidaying with friends in Thailand when he was found unresponsive in his villa on Friday and could not be revived.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Twitter that he had spoken with Warne's family on Sunday and that they agreed to the service.

Andrews said the state funeral would be an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to Warne's contribution to cricket, the state and the country.

He said details would be finalised in the coming days.

Vice Minister for Bougainville Affairs and Regional Member for Bougainville Peter Tsiamalili made the announcement today.

He said the casket will Lie-In-State in the grand hall at National Parliament from 9am-10am where State Ministers and Members of Parliament will pay their last respects before the casket leaves for Reverend Sione Kami Memorial Church for the funeral service.

The casket departs for Buka on Thursday 6^th January 2022.

The plans include two days of lying in state before an official state funeral on 1 January in Cape Town.

Tributes have been pouring in from leaders around the world, including Pope Francis, US President Joe Biden and the UK's Queen Elizabeth II.

Tutu was one of the country's best known figures at home and abroad.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that Tutu had helped bring about "a liberated South Africa".

He said this at the State Funeral of Sir Silas, the seventh Governor-General at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby recently.

Sir Silas, also a former Goroka MP, passed away on September 16th as the country celebrated 46 years of Independence.

Prime Minister Marape said an example of this was during his last meeting with Sir Silas, at his village at Kabiufa outside Goroka, for the recent Goroka by-election.

The State Funeral was held at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Konedobu and was attended by Prime Minister, James Marape, Governor General Sir Bob Dadae, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Justin Tkatchenko, PNG Defence Force Commander Major General Gilbert Toropo, representatives from the churches and national and international dignitaries.

Late John Wamil Gul was officially farewelled by the provincial administration, including Governor Michael Dua and Ac­ting Provincial Administrator, Sebastian Kee.

Late Gul served the Simbu Provincial Administration since 1987 until his time of passing on September 11^th, 2021.

Acting Provincial Administrator, Kee, while addressing family, friends of Late Gul and public servants, said the Simbu Provincial Administration will revive the policy of having state funeral, officially releasing public servants upon their passing to their families and relatives.

As the body of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare lay in state, the three arms of government will assemble to pay their last parliamentary respects to the founding father of Papua New Guinea.

While announcing the State funeral and Haus Krai arrangement for Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, the Prime Minister says the body will lay in state at the Parliament House on Thursday 11th of March.