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Sir Mekere Morauta | |
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7th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea | |
In office 14 July 1999 – 5 August 2002 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General | Sir Silas Atopare |
Preceded by | Bill Skate |
Succeeded by | Sir Michael Somare |
Personal details | |
Born | Kukipi, Territory of Papua (now Papua New Guinea) | 12 June 1946
Died | 19 December 2020[1] Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | (aged 74)
Nationality | ![]() |
Political party | People's Democratic Movement |
Spouse(s) | Louise Morauta Lady Roslyn Morauta |
Alma mater | University of Papua New Guinea, Flinders University |
Profession | Economist |
Sir Mekere Morauta KCMG PC (12 June 1946 – 19 December 2020)[2] was a Papua New Guinean politician and economist who served as the 7th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1999 to 2002. Inheriting a depressed economy and a fractious legislature, he embarked on fundamental reforms of the country's economy and political system.
Before entering politics, Morauta led the post-independence process of building financial infrastructure in Papua New Guinea as Secretary of Finance, Managing Director of the state-owned Papua New Guinea Banking Corporation, and Governor of the central bank. As a member of parliament, he represented Port Moresby North West from 1997 until 2012, and again from 2017 until his death in 2020.
Morauta remained an active opposition leader during the successive governments of Sir Michael Somare and Peter O'Neill, especially focusing on the politics of natural resources.