Sir Rabbie Namaliu - an inherent decency and unbridled integrity

The Right Honourable Sir Rabbie Namaliu, who passed away suddenly on Friday would have been 76 today.

His passing leaves a huge void in my life. I worked for him from 1988 when he became Prime Minister until he retired from public life after losing his Kokopo electorate in 2007.

Even when he moved to the private sector I wrote his speeches etc.

I always say you can best be judged by what your toughest opponent says about you in life, not death.

In his long parliamentary career he did battle with Paias Wingti. In 1982 Paias was chosen as Deputy PM to Sir Michael Somare. In 1987 he defeated Paias to become PM.

After the 1992 elections Paias defeated him by ONE vote.

When he lost Kokopo after some bitter backstabbing Paias went on Radio East New Britain and called the people "fools" for defeating a very good member and leader!

He had been Speaker of the Parliament for five years. In 2002 on the return of Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister he was appointed Foreign Minister.

His term as PM was a difficult one. Within months of his appointment the BCL Mine closed after a landowner rebellion. Tragically the death toll was high. As the body of each soldier or police officer was returned to Port Moresby he went to the airport to receive the body, and mourn with the family.

History records that the issues leading to the rebellion predated his Prime Ministership and were simmering when he became PM.

The mine closure took away about one-third of the PNG economy.

He used his credibility and skill to negotiate a rescue package with the World Bank. But the capacity to spend on infrastructure and improved services was adversely impacted.

Remarkably he led the negotiations to open the Misima Mine and the first commercial oil field, he has just about delivered the Porgera gold and copper mine.

The stability of his government was challenged when his Deputy PM, Ted Diro, was forced to stand down by the ombudsman.

This prevented his public service reform plan being implemented.

But the economy did not collapse. The government lived within its means.

When he left politics he carved out a very successful corporate sector career. I think serving on six boards...including ironically Bougainville Copper!

I was instrumental in persuading him to serve as PNG Patron of the YWAM Medical Ships program. It's a role he embraced with enthusiasm.

As PM and Foreign Minister he enjoyed excellent relations with Australian PMs Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. The Keating visit to PNG for the 50th anniversary of the battle for Kokoda was a career highlight.

He will be greatly missed by his family, his many friends, and the corporate sector.

It was a privilege to work with him. We never had an argument over 30 plus years.

He has been taken too soon.

May he rest in peace.