FORMER Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan will be honoured on a K100 banknote to mark the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.
The new note will be unveiled by Prime Minister James Marape as part of a series of events leading up to PNG’s Independence Day on September 16.
Sir Julius, PNG’s first finance minister, took a leading role in the development of a local currency—the kina and toea—to replace the Australian dollars and cents in April 1975, just months before independence.
“Sir Julius was a patriot, a leader, and a humble servant of this nation,” Marape said.
“He created the financial foundation of Papua New Guinea by helping us move away from colonial currency to our own.”
Speaking on behalf of the Chan family, Julius Toea Chan, the youngest son of the former Prime Minister, said his father never sought recognition during his lifetime.
“There is no road or building named after him, but now, for the first time, the country is officially recognising his contributions,” he said.
“He was a champion of the people who lived to serve by amplifying the voices of our diverse population across thousands of tribes and over 800 languages.”
The K100 banknote will enter circulation next year, according to Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor Elizabeth Genia.
As PNG approaches 50 years of independence in 2025, national leaders say this moment is not just a reflection on history, but a step forward in honouring the country’s identity, currency, and the legacy of those who shaped it.
Don’t miss our September issue, with its special focus on Papua New Guinea.