Vincent Eri
Encyclopedia
Sir Vincent Serei Eri, GCMG
(b. 12 September 1936, Moveave, Gulf Province
, Papua New Guinea
— d. 25 May 1993, Port Moresby
, Papua New Guinea
) was the fifth Governor General of Papua New Guinea and is often cited as being the first Papua New Guinean national to write a novel, The Crocodile in English. It was published in 1970 but Ligeremaluoga is quoted as having published a book called "The Noble Savage" in 1932. It was an account of his life up until approximately 1932.
. Upon graduation, he worked as a school teacher and later became Director of Education. In 1975, he was appointed Papua New Guinea's first Consul General in Australia
. He later was the founder of the People's Action Party
in 1986 and a member of the National Parliament.
He succeeded Kingsford Dibela
as Governor-General of Papua New Guinea on 27 February 1990. Shortly after taking office, he was faced with a constitutional crisis
. Deputy Prime Minister Ted Diro had been found guilty of corruption. The constitution required the Governor-General to dismiss him, but he did not. This created some controversy, and there were calls for Eri himself to leave office, which he did not. Ultimately, Prime Minister Rabbie Namaliu
sent a formal request to Queen Elizabeth II
to replace him.
On 4 October 1991, before Namaliu's request could be acted upon, Eri resigned from office. He died at his home in Port Moresby on 25 May 1993, aged 57, leaving six children.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(b. 12 September 1936, Moveave, Gulf Province
Gulf Province
Gulf Province is a province of Papua New Guinea located on the southern coast. The provincial capital is Kerema. The 34,500 km² province is dominated by mountains, lowland river deltas, and grassland flood plains, the Kikori, Turama, Purari and Vailala rivers all meet the sea known as the...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
— d. 25 May 1993, Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
) was the fifth Governor General of Papua New Guinea and is often cited as being the first Papua New Guinean national to write a novel, The Crocodile in English. It was published in 1970 but Ligeremaluoga is quoted as having published a book called "The Noble Savage" in 1932. It was an account of his life up until approximately 1932.
Life
Eri attended the University of Papua New GuineaUniversity of Papua New Guinea
The University of Papua New Guinea was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired into higher education in Papua New Guinea...
. Upon graduation, he worked as a school teacher and later became Director of Education. In 1975, he was appointed Papua New Guinea's first Consul General in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He later was the founder of the People's Action Party
People's Action Party (Papua New Guinea)
The People's Action Party is a right-of-centre political party in Papua New Guinea.At the legislative elections in June 2002, the party won 5 out of 109 seats in total . At the last legislative elections, in June and July 2007, the party won 6 seats. It supports the government of Prime Minister...
in 1986 and a member of the National Parliament.
He succeeded Kingsford Dibela
Kingsford Dibela
Sir Kingsford Dibela, GCMG was the third Governor-General of Papua New Guinea in 1983 to 1989. He was also the second speaker of the PNG National Parliament from 9 August 1977 to 14 March 1980....
as Governor-General of Papua New Guinea on 27 February 1990. Shortly after taking office, he was faced with a constitutional crisis
Constitutional crisis
A constitutional crisis is a situation that the legal system's constitution or other basic principles of operation appear unable to resolve; it often results in a breakdown in the orderly operation of government...
. Deputy Prime Minister Ted Diro had been found guilty of corruption. The constitution required the Governor-General to dismiss him, but he did not. This created some controversy, and there were calls for Eri himself to leave office, which he did not. Ultimately, Prime Minister Rabbie Namaliu
Rabbie Namaliu
Sir Rabbie Langanai Namaliu, GCL, CSM, KCMG is a Papua New Guinea politician. He served as the fourth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1988 to 1992 as leader of the Pangu Party...
sent a formal request to Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
to replace him.
On 4 October 1991, before Namaliu's request could be acted upon, Eri resigned from office. He died at his home in Port Moresby on 25 May 1993, aged 57, leaving six children.