The Right Honourable Late Sir Mekere Morauta was laid to rest on Independence Hill on Friday afternoon 08th January 2021, following his state funeral at the Reverend Sioni Kami Memorial Church at Boroko. The Right Honourable Late Sir Mekere Morauta was born in 1946 in Kukipi, a coastal village east of Kerema in the Gulf Province and died at the age of 74 on December 19, 2020 in Brisbane Australia.
Late Sir Mekere Morauta was a politician and an economist. He entered the national parliament in July 1997 as the member for Moresby North-West. From 1998 to 1999 he served as the Minister for Fisheries in the government of Bill Skate, at that time the country was having a depressed economy and an uncontrollable legislature, he then went on the journey to create fundamental reforms of the country’s economy and political system.
In July 1999 he was elected the 7th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea in a vote of No Confidence and served from 1999 to 2002, he served 3 years as the country’s Prime Minister. Sir Mekere went on to serve a total of 15 years in politics before he retired from politics and decided not to stand again for elections in 2012 election.
After 5 years off the grid, Sir Mekere contested the Moresby North West seat again in the 2017 national election and won the election, until his passing while while been the sitting member for Moresby North West. For many who knew his work and history in Politics, described the Late Sir Mekere as a reformist whose intelligence in the work has brought about many reformations in the country.
During his funeral service on Friday, the current Prime Minister James Marape paid his last tribute saying Late Sir Mekere has given his life to give service for the country, and he served with higher distinction right from the formative years of the country in the 1970s right up to this time. He said Late Mekere served in the private sector, the public sector and in politics and reformed and strengthened key institutions of the state and at the same time fighting graft and corruption.
“Fighting and removing corruption was again the reason he returned to politics in 2017”.
“He died doing what he loved, serving his country”, said Prime Minister Marape.
Prime Minister Marape further stated, “We PNG are forever grateful to his towering icon of good leadership in our country’s short 45 years.”
Prime Minister Marape concluded his tribute int saying that despite Late Sir Mekere having served as a Prime Minister for only 3 years; his impact transcends time and is intergenerational, making him a true Reformist.
To the family of Late Sir Mekere “I thank you for lending this great Lauri to the rest of us PNG!”
He made a promise to Late Sir Mekere to do his best for the rest of the country and for the people of Kukipi and Huritai who have now conferred the name Lauri to him.
“Your counsels and advices will forever ring in our minds to guide us to make our own contribution to develop PNG,” said Prime Minister.
“Farewell and we hope to see you on that Golden Morning. Rest in Peace Sir Mek”.