PNG declares Friday 8 January as Public Holiday to remember late Sir Mekere

Papua New Guinea has declared this Friday January 8, 2021 as a National public holiday to mark the State Funeral and burial of former Prime Minister and Moresby North West MP late Sir Mekere Morauta.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee of late Mekere's funeral program and Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko made the announcement today.

The public holiday was gazetted as a one off national public holiday and not to be held annually. 

Minister Tkatchenko says this will also mark the beginning of the new precedence where the State Funeral day of former or current Prime Ministers  will be marked as public a holiday.

Late Sir Mekere's State Funeral will be held on Friday at Sioni Kami Memorial Church before his burial at Independence Hill.

Prime Minister James Marape will lead the State Funeral program and former Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu will read late Sir Mekere's eulogy. 

With this new precedence being set, late former Prime Minister Sir William Skate will be the only exception.

FM 100 / PNG Today

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