Passes away

Sir Rabbie served as PNG's fourth prime minister from July 1988 to July 1992.

He had a long and distinguished political career serving in many important roles, including as foreign minister in the early days in government, and later as the speaker of parliament from 1994 to 1997.

He was also a pioneering student and graduate of the University of PNG and became a leading figure during PNG's post-independence era along with Sir Mekere Morauta, Sir Anthony Siaguru, and Sir Charles Lepani.

Mea was the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru from 1978 to 2020.

Born on 16 December, 1939 in Beru, Mea served the church for 42 years.

He was ordained in 1969 a priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

Mea was then appointed as the parish priest of North Tarawa.

His work brought him to the attention of French Bishop Pierre Guichet, who was the Bishop of the Diocese then.

In 1978 Mea succeeded Guichet as the Bishop of the Diocese when it encompassed all of Gilbert Islands soon independent Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu.