Vanuatu loses a leader of integrity

Flags in Vanuatu are today flying at half-mast in tribute to the sudden passing of the Honourable Edward Nipake Natapei Tuta Fanua`araki, the current Opposition Leader.

Natapei was Prime Minister twice and Opposition leader several times during the course of his 32 year parliamentary career. He first entered parliament in 1983 as an MP for TAFEA outer islands. He later became an MP for the Port Vila constituency and has held his seat ever since.

He will be remembered as an honest and humble leader who did much for his constituency and the nation at large.

The Pacific Institute of Public Policy extends its deep condolences to his family and the nation and acknowledges that Vanuatu’s political life will be poorer without his presence.

Natapei was quietly spoken and forthright but rarely played the Big Man role so common in Melanesian politics.  He also achieved something rare – there was never a whiff of scandal or corruption associated with him and thus he will be remembered as a ‘clean skin’ and a man of quiet integrity who improved the body politic of Vanuatu’s parliamentary life.

He drew deeply from his Christian faith and championed the rights of others in the region. In particular he was a strong supporter of the West Papuans and spoke on their behalf in various international fora, including the United Nations. Only recently he expressed his belief that the West Papuans should be given full membership of the sub-regional Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Natapei was born in 1954 on Vanuatu’s only Polynesian outlier, Futuna, and together with former Prime Minister Moanna Carcasses is among the few Polynesians to have become MPs in this Melanesian country. 

He held a variety of parliamentary posts including Speaker of Parliament, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was also President of the Vanua aku Party, the political party which brought independence to Vanuatu in 1980 under its founding father, Fr Walter Lini.

Tributes have flowed from the general public on the Yumi Tok Tok (YTS) page of facebook, a popular social media forum.

Arthur Knight posted: “RIP. Honorable Edward Natapei .. A great national leader and family man that struggled and toiled for Vanuatu’s development ….May God Bless your family and nation in this time of loss and sorrow ..Deepest Sympathy and Condolences.”

One of the administrators of YTS Julian Ligo has posted a moving tribute called “we see you” on their website:

“In all the trials and tribulation, in our path to finding a way to redemption, through our visions of a nation, you have lit the fire that needed to burn. You decided to mould a future through a child’s heart. You instilled a symbol of hope in a generation without patience. You became an icon on your last breath for making us believe we can lead and we see you.”

Recently deposed Prime Minister Joe Natuman praised Natapei saying: “He was a true leader of Vanuatu, a humble person, very genuine, kind and loving person who cared about people, particularly ordinary people. He was a true leader of Vanuatu, a humble person, very genuine, kind and loving person.”

“He will be remembered as a person who was really trying to make sure that people have a better life in Vanuatu”.

Its a sombre moment as the country begins celebrating its 35th independence.

A State funeral will be held on July 31^st.

Caption: Edward Nipake Natapei Tuta Fanua`araki (center) with Australian MP Stephen Smith (left) and former Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Tuiloma Neroni Slade (right).