Mendani to lie in state at Parliament House

THE body of Kerema MP Richard Mendani will lie in state in the Grand Hall of Parliament House today from 10am to noon for MPs, heads of missions, departments and statutory organisations to pay their respects.
Tomorrow morning, the hearse carrying the casket will depart the Erima Funeral Home for the PNG Defence Force Air Transport Squadron hanger, where the casket will be airlifted to Kerema town.
Deputy speaker Koni Iguan will officially hand over the casket to Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta.
After the funeral service, a convoy will depart for the Kanabea local level government station where Haiveta will hand over the casket to district officials.
Mendani died on March 21 after battling the Covid-19 at the Pacific International Hospital. The MP passed away after a month-long admission at the hospital.
Mendani was born in Kanabea village, Gulf, on Aug 16, 1967.
He completed primary school education at the Kanabea Community School in 1980, secondary education at Kerema High School in 1984 and Sogeri National High School in 1986.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1990.
Mendani worked for the Bank of PNG in 1991, Electricity Commission from 1992 to 1996, Investment Promotion Authority from 1997 to 2002, Forest Authority from 2003 to 2007 and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Fiji from 2008 to 2009.
Mendani was first elected into Parliament as the Kerema MP in 2012 and re-elected in 2017.