Prime Minister (PM) James Marape has announced a 10-day mourning period for Papua New Guinea (PNG) as per the program put forth by Buckingham Palace for all Commonwealth countries to pay their respects and tributes to late Queen Elizabeth II, following her recent passing. Marape, in his condolence speech he made at the Government House in Port Moresby, said the PNG has lost her Queen and the country will pay its respects accordingly.
“Our deep expression of sympathy for the loss of a steady figure in our nationhood for 46 going 47 years now,” said the PM. “She was Queen of our country, she was head of state, she was the anchor for many of our activities in as far as running our sovereignty is concerned.” Marape also announced that the 10- day mourning period will see all government businesses suspended in respect of the late Queen.
“For our country, I ask all of us for the mourning period to fly our flags half mast, to contain our activities with respect with the passing of the head of our state. In the next day or so, I will be announcing to our country what activities will take place in memory of the head of state,” said the PM. Marape along with the Governor General, Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae, will be heading over to London in England during this period for the funeral and to meet with the new King, King Charles III.
The PM’s scheduled appointment to meet with the King will be on the 16th of September, which coincidently falls on PNG’s Independence Day. Meanwhile, the PM also announced that the Government House will be open to the public, heads of missions who are here in the country, public servants, members of parliament and ministers to pay their respects and tributes to the late Queen.
He said the Condolences Book will be put at Government House for the length of the 10- day mourning period sanctioned by Buckingham Palace. “We will allow the book only to be here and for those who want to sign and offer sympathy symbolically on our condolences book, you must make your way to our Government House,” said Marape.