The Autonomous Region of Bougainville join mainland Papua New Guinea in expressing our heartfelt condolences on the death of former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta, KGMC, MP who passed on in Australia on 19 December, 2020.
On behalf of the Toroama-Nisira Cabinet, Bougainville Public Service, my spouse Lady Betty Toroama and family, we express our heartfelt sorrow to Lady Roselyn Morauta, son James Morauta, and especially the people of Moresby North West Electorate and Gulf Province. It is our prayer you find courage and solace in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sir Mekere Morauta, KGMC, MP contributed to the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement on 30 August, 2001. This historic occasion set the foundation Pillars of Autonomy, Referendum and Weapons Disposal that has stood the test of time in the last decade building a peaceful and resilient Bougainville.
Successive Governments since the Bougainville ceasefire agreement in 1998, have had their mark on peace-building, and your leadership is one that will forever be part of our self-determination political history.
You maintained good dialogue with the pioneer Bougainville President, Late Joseph Kabui, Chief Dr John Momis, GCL, and other likeminded leaders in crafting our peace building strategy. As one of the signatory to the Bougainville Peace Agreement, I personally thank you for your contribution. You contributed to our ‘Walk to Freedom’, and we will march on guided by the Bougainville Peace Agreement 2001.
My Government has taken a strong stance in combating corruption, and take to heart Late Sir Mekere Morauta’s perception that “Corruption is systemic and systematic”. Corruption is the evil that erode a public service and government machinery. My Government is committed to fight against corruption, and embrace the reformist leadership style that you portrayed in your tenure as former Prime Minister, Minister, Corporate Manager, Senior Departmental Head, and Senior Statesman.
There a few icons of political leadership and change within the Pacific Islands Countries and Oceania Region, and you rise above as one of Papua New Guinea’s home grown leader and manager. Your political thought in embracing radical change in the national interest backed by good governance is testament to your reformist leadership trait. In the words of American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life”, Romans 6:4.
May your soul rest in eternal peace.
Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MHR
President
Autonomous Bougainville Government
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