Sir Julius Chan, who passed away at 85, was a critical figure in Papua New Guinea's history, serving as its first finance minister and twice as prime minister. He was the last surviving member of the country’s first post-colonial government. His controversial tenure included the hiring of South African mercenaries, which led to political upheaval in 1997. Born in 1939, Chan faced early hardships yet rose to prominence in politics, contributing significantly to PNG's governance and development. His death marks the end of an era for the Pacific nation.
Born just before the outbreak of World War II and as the last surviving member of Papua New Guinea's initial post-colonial government, Sir Julius Chan's legacy is significant.
As the first finance minister, he played a crucial role in establishing the country's banking and finance systems, thus laying the groundwork for PNG's economic framework.
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