Southern Highlands, Hela Provinces pay tribute to late PNG's Founding Father and Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare

The people of Hela and Southern Highlands including their political  political leaders, former Mps, top bureaucratic leaders, technocrats, business communities, students , mothers and children living in the Nation Capital, Port Moresby have turned out in numbers to pay final tributes to Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare on Monday, on the 8th of March, 2021. 

Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, was  the founding father of Papua New Guinea  who unified country in unity, the architecture of the living constitution, the founder of democracy & human rights in the country. 

Many leaders from the two provinces shared the grief and sorrow for the fallen hero. Former PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill apologized to the Somare family and the people of East Sepik. 

“I know we’ve had our own differences and if I had caused some grief and pain to the Somare family or himself, we apologise for it,” O’Neill said.

“We say sorry.

“Sir Michael had a unique capacity.

“He had the capacity to forgive, capacity of humbleness, which put him above everyone else for 49 years.”

“He continued to practise that, largely because of the love for his country.

“That is why he was able to rise above challenges.

“Many of us who are in politics today, have served in his cabinet, we have served in his government in various capacities.

“What a unique style of leadership, the Melanesian way of leadership, that he provided, guiding many young leaders who came after him to achieve some of the things that we have been able to achieve.

“That is again a credit to Sir Michael.”

O’Neill thanked Lady Veronica for her steadfast support to Sir Michael as his political career took him away from home.

“We must say ‘thank you’ to Lady Veronica who stood by him all those years,” he said.

“Political life is a challenging life.

“But for a woman to stand by her husband during those trying times, is a credit to her and the strength of the family’s elites.

“For that, we give credit to her.

“Thank you for giving this unique man to our nation.

“He was the right man at the right place at the right time for the history and the history of our country.

“It is therefore only fitting, as we call them our founding father.

“I hope our Government and our leaders agree with me that his birthday should be recognised as a national day for our country.”

The tributes have been concluded with presentation of gifts and custom works by SHP Governor Hon.William Powi & Hela Governor Hon. Philip Undialu in a memorable way. In accepting the gifts, East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird alluded that friendship established by SHP & Hela with Sepiks from pre & post Independence have effectively renewed  with the younger generational leaders for both province to sustain forever. 

A  combined contribution of about K7 million from the two provinces was pledged to support the Somare family and the East Provincial Government.

Photos by Martin Tis

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