Mr Watawi served in the first three parliaments in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region.
He was vice president to the first leader of the ABG, Joseph Kabui, and later was minister of trade under James Tanis.
In that role he was responsible for Bougainville's first copra mill being built.
Mr Watawi was also heavily involved in the preparations for the referendum in 2019 and the ongoing post referendum process.
