Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

Peter O’Neill, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

Peter Charles Paire O’Neill, CMG (born February 13, 1964) is a Papua New Guinean politician and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea since 2011.

Peter O’Neill was born in Laiagam, Pangia, Southern Highlands Province. O’Neill’s father, Brian O’Neill, was an Australian-born magistrate. His mother, Awambo Yari, a Papua New Guinean, came from the Southern Highlands. His father moved to Papua New Guinea in 1949 as an Australian government field officer, known in Tok Pisin as a kiap, later serving as a magistrate in Goroka until his death in 1982. Peter O’Neill spent his first years of his youth in his mother’s village and entered his father’s urban household after going to secondary school. O’Neill was educated at the Pangia Primary School, Ialibu High School and Goroka High School. After leaving school he obtained a Bachelor’s in Commerce at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). This was followed by an honors degree in accountancy from UPNG. He obtained a professional qualification and became a Certified Practicing Accountant in 1989. A year later he became President of the PNG Institute of Certified Practicing Accountants. Peter O’Neill became a partner in Pratley and O’Neil’s accounting firm. He combined this with a substantial number of directorships, often as Executive chairman. The most important of these is the PNG Banking Corporation when it was government owned.

Peter O’Neill has been married to Lynda May Babao since 1999. They have five children: Brian O’Neill, Travis O’Neill, Joanne O’Neill, Loris O’Neill, Patrick O’Neill. It is his second marriage. He has been admitted to the Order of St.Michael and Saint George.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_O%27Neill

Michael Somare, Former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

Note: on April 4, 2011, Prime Minister Somare was accused of misconduct and ordered to temporarily step down for 14 days by a leadership tribunal. Sam Abal becomes acting prime minister.

Date of Birth: 09 April 1936
Place of Birth: Rabaul, East New Britain Province

Marital Status: Married with five children and 8 grandchildrenACHIEVEMENTS

1957-1967 Broadcasting Officer & Teacher
1968 Elected to House of Assembly
1975-1981 First Prime Minister of PNG
1976 Honored Doctor of Humanity – University of Philippines.
1979 Doctor of Law – Australian National University, Australia
1981-1982 Leader of the Opposition
1982-1985 Re-elected Prime Minister of PNG
1982 Doctor of Technology – University Technology, Lae
1985-1987 Leader of the Opposition
1987 Continue to be elected to Parliament and continue to hold senior public office
1991 Doctor of Letters – University of Wollonggong, NSW, Australia
1996 Formed National Alliance
1999- Minister for Mining & Bougainville Affairs
2001 Leader of the Opposition
2002 Prime Minister of PNG

HONOURS AND AWARDS

1977, June 1: Appointed a Privy Councillor by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
1978, June 8: Made a Companion of Honours (CH)
1991: Made Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG)
1992: Pontifical knighthood by the Holy Father Pope John Paul II, Knight of the Equesterian Order of St.Gregory the Great (GCEG)

HONORARY AWARDS

1976: Conferred Doctorate of Humanities (Honoris Causa) Leiciana, Philippines
1978: Conferred Doctorate of Laws (LLD) (Honoris Causa) Australian National University
1978: Conferred Doctorate of South Pacific (Honoris Causa) (Suva Fiji)
1983: Conferred Doctorate of Technology (Honoris Causa) University of Technology
1985: Conferred Doctorate of Laws (LLD) (Honoris Causa) University of Papua New Guinea
1991: Conferred, Doctorate of Letters (Honoris Causa) Wollongong NSW Australia

On December 10, 2010, The Supreme Court rules that the reelection by the parliament on June 25 of Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane was unconstitutional and removes him from office. The speaker of parliament, Jeffery Nape, becomes acting governor-general on December 13 and the parliament will have to meet within 40 days to elect a new governor-general.