POLYE CONVEYS CONDOLENCE ON MANDELA’S PASSING

Don Polye 

Port Moresby: Chairman for World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund board of governors Don Pomb Polye today joined other world leaders to express his deep sadness at the passing away of South Africa’s former president, Nelson Mandela.

Mr Polye was saddened by the news of his death on Thursday, saying Mandela was an inspiration to many and was a man of many achievements.

“Mandela was a brilliant torch bearer of Godly values that need not to be allowed to erode. The rare values of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation did he uphold for the world to cherish and live by.

“We can only thank God for sending to mankind stars like Nelson Mandela so that precious goodness could illuminate out of such people for all to be blessed with,” Mr Polye said.

He added: “if we only could emulate Late Mandela’s example of peace and love; respect and prosperity, we as a global village could radiate like the sun with joy and happiness”. 

He sympathized with the family and the people of South Africa of his death and said that, PNG could learn from many of his legacies.

Mandela passed away on Thursday night at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg. 

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said his gifts to human would remain.

"He taught the world that no matter the sins of the past, no matter the horror of apartheid, the way ahead toward peace was to forgive but not forget, to remember what happened but also to offer a hand in order to start anew. On this sad day, our thoughts are with the South African people," Mr Kim said.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of the IMF Christine Lagarde said she was deeply saddened by Mandela's passing, describing the former statesman as a courageous and visionary leader.

"He enabled his country to confront its past and inspired its people to address an extraordinary set of challenges. He was a man who brought deep principles, skilful diplomacy and quiet dignity to the task of national reconciliation and nation building. His modesty in the face of greatness will always be remembered and, moreover, will continue to inspire us all," said Lagarde.

SA became the member of the bank and the fund in 1945.