Duban lauds Sir Angmai

By DOROTHY MARK
THE family of statesman Sir Angmai Bilas expect a state funeral in honour of the pioneer Madang leader who died last week.
They had been waiting for assistance from the provincial government when Madang MP Nixon Duban came forward with K20,000 and 12 pigs for the 12 clans of Riwo village.
Businessman Dr Thomas Kainge  donated K10,000 which would be used to pay for airline tickets to Port Moresby and funeral home expenses.
Duban said Sir Angmai became an MP at the critical time when Papua New Guinea was gaining its political independence.
He said pioneer leaders like Sir Angmai did not have formal education but strived to help the country achieve nationhood.
“Whether they spoke English correctly or not, the bottom line is that they delivered,” Duban said.
“Many of them were not educated but applied the rules they used in the village to deliver at the highest level.”
Duban said he studied political science and one of his tasks was to study the history of PNG politics which he received more information from the late leader.
“I am happy to say that I have picked up a lot of information from him,” Duban said.
The province lost three prominent leaders in the last three weeks, including Sir Angmai.
The others included Madang businessman and former MP Stanley Pil and former governor Tom Pais.
Duban said Sir Angmai was first Madang MP and served from 1968-1982.