The story behind Mr Marape’s moniker
16 April 2025
SIMON DAVIDSON
Yesterday, in Papua New Guinea's parliament, prime minister James Marape - who turns 54 on Thursday next week - survived a vote of no confidence. And so far, the son of a Seventh Day Adventist pastor has also survived his public image. He's widely known as Mausmarape, a corruption of the term mausmara (empty talk or bullshit). Simon Davidson tells why - KJ
PORT MORESBY - Since the founding the nation, the incumbent prime minister has been given different descriptive nicknames by the people and by the press.
Some of these monikers were given as a badge of honour; others as pure mockery.
Like ripples spreading across a still lake, these nicknames echoed across the length and the breadth of the nation.
They were chanted across the assembly halls by students, uttered during community gatherings and shouted during political rallies amidst the roar of adoring supporters.
Four prime ministers, three of them knights, were given monikers of great respect.
Sir Michael Somare was Father of the Nation. Sir Julius Chan was Father of Kina. Sir Mekere Morauta was the Reformist Prime Minister. And Peter O'Neill was the Father of Infrastructure.
However the current prime minister, James Marape, is known as Mauswarape.
The Mauswarape moniker is swelling in social media due to his well-known unfulfilled promises and his litany of lies and as the nation has sunk into an economic black hole.
The publicly minted name carries the voice of the more than 10 million people who consitut the nation.
That prime ministers are so-named highlights the fact that these leaders are always under intense scrutiny.
The nicknames can be insignia of respect or dripping with scorn.
A failure to govern by ethical standards or to approve of corruption always draws the wrath of voters.
Sometimes the nickname comes from the fertile mind of a clever wordsmith and is minted in praise, or as denunciation, a jokey kick in the teeth.
The mocking moniker is something that all politicians, especially prime ministers, want to avoid.
Simon Davidson, who for many years taught at Sonoma Adventist College in East New Britain, is currently writing books, starting a small business and living in Port Moresby after leaving Sonoma last year.
Re the Hanoverians I jumpted the gun somewhat.
The German Georgian Kings came before.
Posted by: William Dunlop | 20 April 2025 at 11:30 PM
My dear Bernard, your "LOL1690" equates to King William of the Dutch House of Orange ruling the United Kingdom of Gt Britain and Northern Ireland upon his takeover of that Realm as its King before the later takeover by the Hanovers.
Amongst my Ancestors is Matilda, the Queen Consort of James Stewart IV, the Sister of Henry the Eighth.
My late sister was called Matilda, as was recently her newly born Australian grandaughter, my grand neice, as was my Grandmother, Matilda Archibald, and in each generation back through various families' females to James Stewarts, Queen Matilda.
Emtasol.
NB William Dunlop was hanged in Coleraine in 1799 for Treason for being a United Irishman. That night his Widow and son Scared away the Trooper guarding his grave by the use of a white sheet and recovered his body which was later interned in Hallowed ground.
In his Jacket pocket they found his seal still Intact, This was of the Royal House of Stewart which he was entiteld to use but it didn't save him from Hanging Judge Jeffreys.
Posted by: William Dunlop | 20 April 2025 at 01:24 PM
My dear William,
LOL 1690 No Surrender.
Posted by: Bernard Corden | 18 April 2025 at 08:07 AM
Mauswara allsame gammon man emtasol.
The Late Francis Nii used to express great mirth to me, regarding this expression, when I used it about the Ali Baba's of PNG.
In my Birth Land, N Ireland, we had the Rev Ian Paisley, also a politician. A renowned Fiery Bible Thumper. Later to become Lord Banside. An able mauswara allsame Gammon Man.
Liam Neeson the Renowned Actor used to attend Paisley's sermons as a young man taking acting lessons from the Great Man Thundering from his Free Church of Gods Pulpit in Ballymena Town.
In the Good Old US of A, we have Trump.
_______
Oh Dear, William, and that article was going so well.... - KJ
Posted by: William Dunlop | 16 April 2025 at 04:06 PM
In Australia's pre-election 2025, the Libs have "Team" that seems a dream. The price of preparedness is pertinent.
Before any chance electorates put marks on ballot papers, and not yet encounter an Aus-Mauswarape, Team may need rinse its mouthwash.
Posted by: Lindsay F Bond | 16 April 2025 at 09:02 AM