Rabbie Namaliu

Sir Rabbie Langanai Namaliu GCL KCMG PC (born 3 April 1947) is a Papua New Guinea politician. He served as the fourth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea^[1] from 1988 to 1992 as leader of the Pangu Party.

Biography

An ethnic Tolai, Sir Rabbie comes from East New Britain. He was educated in Papua New Guinea and in Canada, at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia. Prior to his political career he was an academic in the field of political science at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Before becoming prime minister, he served as foreign minister for the first time, from 1982 to 1984, by this time beginning his long alliance with Michael Somare, who was prime minister at that time and served as foreign minister while Namaliu was prime minister. He was appointed foreign minister in 2002, as part of the National Alliance Party government of Michael Somare. He served as foreign minister until 12 July 2006 when he became finance minister during a cabinet reshuffle. Sir Rabbie subsequently lost his seat of Kokopo Open at the 2007 Election, but hasn't ruled out a future return to politics. He lost his cabinet post when the new government, again led by Somare, took office in August 2007.

He is a widower and has two grown sons.

As a former prime minister of Papua New Guinea he is a member of the Imperial Privy Council since 1989 and is styled "The Right Honourable".

References

1. Rabbie Namaliu, Australian Network, accessed December 2010