Former National Parliament Speaker Jeffery Nape passed away in Port Moresby this morning.
Pacific International Hospital acting chief executive officer Dr Amyna Sultan confirmed the death of the two-term parliamentarian but declined to give the cause of his death.
“No! Sorry, that would breach patient confidentiality,” Dr Sultan told Loop PNG.
Late Nape after consecutive terms as the Member Sinasina Yonggumgl lost the Chimbu electorate seat in the 2012 National General Elections to Kerenga Kua.
He twice served as the Speaker of Parliament after being declared as a first term MP after the 2002 elections.
Late Nape served as the Speaker during the 2011 infamous political impasse when the country’s founding father Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was disqualified to enter parliament and Peter O’Neill was elected into officer as then prime minister.
According to Wikipedia in December 2011, a constitutional crisis broke out when the Supreme Court declared Sir Michael Somare to be the legitimate Prime Minister but Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, who had the support of a parliamentary majority, refused to step down.
Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, following a court order, recognised Somare as Prime Minister.
Parliament responded, on December 14, by "suspending" Ogio and declaring Nape, as Speaker, who automatically is the acting Governor-General.
The Queen of Papua New Guinea, Elizabeth II, who appoints parliament's chosen candidate for governor-general, did not revoke Ogio's commission.
On December 19, Ogio was again recognised by Parliament as Governor-General and O'Neill as Prime Minister.
In January 2012, Nape joined Don Polye's new Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party.
He lost his seat at the 2012 election.
Caption: Late Jeffery Nape (without eyeglasses) and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill at Government House. Picture source: theasutralian.com.au.