Former Member of Parliament for Ijivitari electorate in the Northern Province, Simon Kaumi (Snr), who also served as Papua New Guinea’s first national Electoral Commissioner prior to independence, has died.
He was 78 years old.
Kaumi from Sanananda in Buna, Northern Province, was appointed Electoral Commissioner in 1966.
He served in this post until 1972 when he was appointed Secretary for the Department of Internal Affairs.
He stood down in 1974 to pursue personal interests.
In 1992, Kaumi was elected Member of Parliament for the Ijivitari Open Electorate.
He served only one (1) term in office before losing his seat in the 2002 General Elections.
PNG Electoral Commission staff in Popondetta and counting officials in the Ijivitari By-Elections observed a minute's silence during the counting yesterday morning in respect of the late Mr. Kaumi.