After an exemplary political career, Grand Chief can retire proud

SIR Michael Somare is still the Chief 49 years after being first elected to PNG’s parliament by the people of his East Sepik on March 16, 1968, principally for a single reason: he is the country’s prototype nationalist.
He has been prime minister three times, from independence in 1975 to 1980 (after being chief minister during the preparatory three years of self-government from 1973-75), from 1982-85, and from 2002-2011.
His political career got a head start in1965 when he came to Port Moresby for training at the Administrative College at Waigani. The timing was crucial because he was not the only independently minded, spirited young man to have emerged then but had fellow mature students in the likes of Albert Maori Kiki, Cecil Abel, Joseph Nombri, Oala Oala-Rarua, Reuben Taureka and others.
The college provided an environment for an explosion of free thought, with Somare and his colleagues catching the spirit of nationalist movements driven by Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya and Julius Nyerere in Tanzania.
Sir Michael was fiery, spoke well and was an ideas person. His political style was both fiercely nationalistic and purportedly conciliatory, following the tradition of Sana as he professed to see it.
The Papua New Guinea Union (Pangu) Pati was officially formed on June 13, 1967, with the support of nine members of the House of Assembly: Nicholas Brokham, Barry Holloway, Wegra Kenu, Siwi Kurondo, Paul Lapun, Pita Lus, James Meangarum, Paliau Moloat and Voutas. The other founding members of the party were: Cecil Abel, Pen Anakapu, Gerai Asiba, Ilimo Batton, Cromwell Burau, Elliot Elijah, Sinaka Goava, Albert Maori Kiki, Basil Koe, Joseph Nombri, Oala Oala-Rarua, Ebia Olewale, Gavera Rea, Somare, Reuben Taureka, Epel Tito, Vin Tobaining, Thomas Tobunbun and Kamona Walo.
Somare faced his first big test when the Australian administration offered Pangu several positions of parliamentary secretaries with the intention of training ministers of the future. They would receive higher pay and status. But the party had pursued a platform of being a watchdog on the government and of chasing independence.
Somare had no hesitation in choosing to remain independent of the Australian official members. He showed himself as a man of principle.
During those intensive days as the second House of Assembly gathered for its initial meeting, he demonstrated to all other party members his firmness in making decisions and, above all else, his charisma.
For the next four years, his experience as leader of the highly vocal, yet small, opposition party can be likened to how steel is strengthened by placing it in an ultra-high temperature furnace.
By the time of the third House in 1972, he had acquired the foundation talents necessary to take on the enormous task of PNG’s first national leader.
The key to Somare’s political longevity and to his present high standing at home and in the wider Pacific region, is what has happened since. The answer is not enough.
For most islands countries, they have little choice but to move on and assess which political newcomer appears least likely to let them down again.
For PNG, Somare, still feisty at 81, had remained ready, willing and eager for office. Unfortunately the curtains had to be drawn some day.
Jeff Wall, an astute analyst of PNG politics sums up Sir Michael Somare in these words (some parts have been tweaked though); “The political record of Somare is without equal not only in PNG but in the Pacific.
His 49 years of unbroken parliamentary service is unlikely to be equalled, let alone exceeded in the future. He has been in PNG’s Parliament continuously for twice as long as any other member.
But the measure of years tells only a part of the story.
He has been a remarkable political survivor, who has been written off by opponents and observers alike more than once in the past, today he is at the very zenith of his political power.
In the robust, unpredictable, though highly democratic, political environment that PNG is and has always been, surviving 49 years as an MP, and being elected Prime Minister for a period of almost half of these years, is a remarkable record.”
The range of issues that our government faces today, demonstrate how much catching up still has to be done. Many of them remain matters that have remained on the agenda, unresolved, through the existence of an independent PNG.
This must at times depress the man himself but it also appears to motivate him.
It is sad indeed to see an illustrious career come to an end but it is also just as noble to let him be with his family to reflect on a remarkable journey of survival.

CS7
Kilakila, NCD