It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of the founding Registrar of Political Parties, Mr Paul Bernard Baundi Bengo BA, CBE, CSM on the 15th of January 2024.
Mr Bengo served the Registry as the Registrar from 2001 to 2008 until reaching the retirement age as per the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties & Candidates. Mr Bengo was a seasoned Public Servant who had served many Government organizations with distinction and loyalty. They included Secretaries of Lands, Defence and Provincial Secretary for East Sepik to name only a few.
However it is in his capacity as the Registrar of Political Parties that he made his mark towards the development of political parties in Papua New Guinea when the Organic Law was enacted in 2000 when Sir Mekere Morauta was the Prime Minister. His contributions to the development of Papua New Guinea was well documented and highlighted during his funeral service by Ms Dulcie Somare and Ambassador Gabriel Dusava.
His contributions to development of political parties in PNG as the founding Registrar was recognized and as a small token of appreciation the Registry’s conference room was named after him in 2014. The conference room is known as “Bengo Room” May his soul rest in eternal peace