Sir Pato Kakaraya, KBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

, is a 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...

 politician and Cabinet Minister. Kakaraya was the second person considered for the elections for Governor-General of 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...

 in 2004. Despite Sir Paulias Matane

Paulias Matane

Sir Paulias Nguna Matane GCL, GCMG, OBE, KStJ , formerly a career civil servant, was the eighth Governor-General of Papua New Guinea from 29 June 2004 to 13 December 2010.-Personal life:...

's win, Kakaraya disputed the vote.

Kakaraya only had a grade 6 education, but he later attended the Lutheran Mission as a youth leader (1958-1966) and later as translator (1966-1967).

He was advisor at Waso Limited from 1967-1971, then joined the Wabag Native Trading Company from 1971-1972.

He was elected as a member of the National Parliament for the Wapenamanda Open Seat from 1972-1987.

Kakaraya held ministerial posts including:

• Minister for Environment and Conservation 1978-1980
• Minister for Youth, Recreation and Women Affairs 1977-1978