Sir Rabbie, a great man: PM

**Paias Wingti laying a wreath on Sir Rabbie’s tomb.**

**Lady Winifred Kamit with Dame Meg Taylor paying their respects to Sir Rabbie Namaliu at Independence Hill in Port Moresby yesterday.**

SIR Rabbie Namaliu was a man of many accolades during his service to the people of Papua New Guinea, says Prime Minister James Marape.
At the State funeral held at Apec House yesterday morning, Marape gave a heartfelt speech about the life of the former Prime Minister Sir Rabbie.
“The solemn responsibility has fallen on me to have presided over the passing of three former prime ministers of our country, all of whom have played very significant roles in the formative years of our country.
“They have all laid the foundational building blocks that have anchored and continue to anchor our unity and democracy. On this occasion, it is with great sadness and deepest of all condolences, that I want to convey our sincere and heartfelt sympathies to the children, family and the people of East New Britain on the passing of this great man, Sir Rabbie.
“He emerged from a simple missionary family into becoming an extraordinary Papua New Guinean,” Marape said.
He explained that Sir Rabbie would then go on to become one of the few pioneers of Papua New Guinea to study at the University of Papua New Guinea and then pursue postgraduate studies overseas.
“He was among the first students at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1966.
“He was the first chief of staff to the then first prime minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare.
“He was the key member of the Constitutional Planning Committee.
“He became our country’s fourth prime minister in 1988.
“He was made a member of the Her Majesty’s Privy Council (of the United Kingdom) in 1989. He held many portfolios and public offices from 1982 to 2007.
“And since then, has not contested or re-contested public office.

Correctional Services commissioner Stephen Pokanis, Defence chief Major-General Mark Goina and police commissioner David Manning paying their respects to Sir Rabbie Namaliu at Independence Hill in Port Moresby yesterday – Nationalpics by NICKY BERNARD

“We are giving respect to a Papua New Guinean giant, who helped the fathers of our country to ensure we achieved our sovereignty and nationhood,” Marape said.
“Sir Rabbie was an inspirational leader with strong Christian and Melanesian cultural influence that dictated his work and life of service to our country. He was a humble man.
“Sir Rabbie worked for the country faithfully and honestly. He, like Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, lived simple and fulfilling lives after politics.
“He set his bar very high and kept his dignity, achieving much of what he set out to do.
“He entered and exited public life without fanfare and continued to work and offer useful contributions to his country.
“He is a wonderful example whom we all can learn from in all facets of life, so that we too, especially today’s generation and the generation that come after us, can learn from Sir Rabbie.”