Official dies after short illness

NATIONAL Coordination Office for Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA) director Dr Henry Tadap Okole passed away on Friday after a short illness.
A statement from NCOBA deputy director Gracelyn Meauri said Dr Okole was selected from a fine pool of candidates and appointed director by the National Executive Council last Nov 12.
He held that position until his passing.
Dr Okole from Ravat, Raluana LLG, Kokopo, previously held an advisory role with NCOBA under the Abt PNG Management Services.
He was a former academic at the University of PNG, a former international staff member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in Belgium and a senior research fellow with the PNG National Research Institute. He was also a consultant engaged in PNG and the Pacific.
At the time of his passing, he was also an adjunct research fellow at La Trobe University in Victoria, Australia.
With NCOBA, he accomplished a successful Joint Supervisory Body meeting in Arawa last month.
He also completed a background paper titled Papua New Guinea and Bougainville: Origins of the crisis and implementing the Bougainville peace agreement.