PNG elder statesman, Sir Barry Holloway dies in Australia

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One of the writers of Papua New Guinea's constitution and elder statesman, Sir Barry Holloway, has died.

His son, Joe Holloway, told NBC News in a telephone interview from Brisbane, Australia, that Sir Barry passed away at 1930hrs last night, from kidney failure.

Sir Barry was admitted to a hospital in Brisbane until his death.

Joe Holloway says Sir Barry was in hospital for some time until he died Wednesday night, surrounded by family members.

He said family members are discussing funeral arrangements. His last wish was to be buried at his place of birth at Kimberley, in Western Australia.

Sir Barry was 18 years old when he arrived in Port Moresby in 1953, after responding to a newspaper advertisement, seeking patrol officers or kiaps in PNG.

He spent two years on Bougainville before he was posted to a remote outpost in Madang and served in various capacities as police chief, magistrate, jailer and census taker.

Sir Barry was one of the first members of the famous 'Bully Beef Club', along with Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, and later formed the PANGU Pati.

Sir Barry was also the Speaker in the 3rd House of Assembly before PNG gained independence, and the Speaker in the 1st National Parliament from September 16, 1975 to August 9, 1977.

He contributed immensely to PNG's national development and was heavily involved in formulating many of the country's policies.

Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea has lost another senior bureaucrat.

Chief Migration Officer Mataio Rabura died on Saturday after a long illness.

NBC News has been informed that Rabura from Kirakira village in the National Capital District, passed away in Australia, where he was seeking medical treatment.

He was supervising many projects, one of which was the setting up of the asylum seeker regional processing centre on Manus and the processing of genuine refugees for resettlement.

Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill has extended the nation’s condolences to the family of the late Rabura saying he was an outstanding public servant and diplomat who had served the nation for forty-three years.

'Rabura served our nation with honour for more than four decades including diplomatic postings in Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“In these roles he was an emissary for Papua New Guinea and worked to build relations with our friends in the region.

“Over recent years, Rabura had one for the most challenging jobs in the Government as he managed the Regional Processing Centre on Manus. This was a challenging role at the best of times, but the late Mataio Rabura was up to this task.

“In doing so he made a significant contribution to the resettlement programme and prevented further loss of life at sea at the hands of people smugglers.

Arrangements are being made to take his body home to Papua New Guinea. Rabura is survived by his wife and six children.

SOURCE: NBC NEWS / Photo: NBC News