Govt plans symbolic ceremony

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James Marape

Reports By HELEN TARAWA
THE Government will hold a symbolic ceremony on Saturday night to release the body of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to the people of East Sepik, Prime Minister James Marape says.
Speaking at the haus krai organised by the national organising committee, Marape said provincial presentations would end on Thursday night.
He said on Friday evening, the PNG Council of Churches would be given the opportunity to pay their respects.
“Saturday night will be the symbolic release of the body of Sir Michael to East Sepik Governor Allan Bird and the family will give us a token which will mark the monument and memorial to be placed on Independence Hill,” Marape said.
“That exchange will take place on Saturday evening in preparation for the body to leave Port Moresby for the final time on Sunday morning.
“Thank you Papua New Guinea for tuning in and let’s keep on respecting that we are in mourning.
“The bereavement and tributes since day one are fitting of respect of the greatest chief, greatest prime minister and greatest politician in our country.”
National Alliance leader and Aitape-Lumi MP Patrick Pruaitch, speaking on behalf of the Somare family, said Sir Michael had continued to remind the Government to ensure that Jiwaka was created.
He said the Jiwaka people had a special moment in history with Sir Michael.
“Right across our country, specific groups are able to meet together making haus krai, paying tribute to this great man,” Pruaitch said.
“I’m sure Sir Michael would be the happiest man because the country has shown that respect for him.
“The challenge for us is to making sure that the lessons that Sir Michael experienced and left behind becomes a movement in the drive towards better managing our country.”


Polye speaks of lessons learnt from first PM

FORMER Kandep MP Don Polye says Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was a building block for Papua New Guinea and demonstrated everything a leader could have.
Polye said this during the Enga tribute night at the Sir John Guise Stadium on Friday.
“He was a leader, a builder and an architect of this nation,” he said.
“(Sir Michael) led other leaders on the way to independence.”
Polye said PNG was not developed but Sir Michael brought the nation and people together with developments and today people were enjoying it.
“He did this with confidence,” he said.
“As a young man when I came into politics in 2002, I have seen the goodness of this great man.”
Polye said the economy was very slow but under Sir Michael’s leadership, it changed.
“I was a young politician.
“I did not have much knowledge as to how we could solve the economy of this country, but Sir Michael did it.”
“Sir Michael taught me a lesson and that is the rule of law must be followed at all costs.” Polye said.
“ He was an extra ordinary (man) and one of the greatest gifts that was given to PNG and with that, even with his passing, the country must remain united.”
Polye called on people to honour Sir Michael and respect him.
“We should live his legacy and remain united always,” he said.
“My condolence to Lady Veronica, your family and the people of East Sepik.
“Thank you for giving us the great leader for 49 years in the parliament.
“May Sir Michael’s legacy remain forever.”


Somare was a very respectable man: Former MP

FORMER North Waghi MP William Wii says his first impression of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was that of a very respectable young man.
“He wore short trousers, tucked in (his) shirt and socks pulled up neat and tidy,” Wii said
“(Sir Michael) looked very respectable in the Department of Information and Extension Services at Konedobu.”
In his tribute to the grand chief on Sunday evening, Wii said of all his friends in politics, he was chosen to accompany him to London, in 1991.
“I first met Sir Michael in the 1960s at Konedobu,” Wii recalled.
“I came to the office to be trained as a radio announcer.
“He was a man who understood everybody, even from the smallest child to a great leader.” Wii said during his trip to London, he almost set their hotel on fire.
“In 1991, Sir Michael went to receive his award from the Queen.
“After the award presentation, there was a function.
“The late Brown Bai was high commissioner to Brussels at that time and we were in room 7 while Sir Michael was in room 9.
“We didn’t realise that it was a non-smoking area until the smoke detector went off.
“On the ground floor, Sir Michael asked who the culprit was.
“I quietly said that it was the little man from North Waghi.
“Liklik mangi Jiwaka, klostu yu kilim me ya (little man from Jiwaka you almost killed me,” Sir Michael told Wii.
Former Baiyer MP Traimya Kambipi spoke of his experience as a member of the Opposition when Sir Michael was prime minister.
He said Sir Michael was chosen by God and he feared no one but God alone. “We had intensive debates regarding independence of Papua New Guinea,” Kambipi said.
“I was then in the Opposition under the United Party and we strongly opposed the idea of independence because we felt it was too early.
“(In the) House of Assembly, we exchanged fists but you (Sir Michael) eventually won.
“Your fearless stand, determination, with your people in (your) heart, it was the divine will of God that you achieved your dream and delivered independence for this beautiful country.”


Jiwaka people owe Sir Michael for their provincial status, says governor

William Tongamp

JIWAKA Governor Dr William Tongamp says his people owe Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare for their provincial status.
He said Sir Michael made it possible for them.
Dr Tongamp, who addressed the national haus krai along with the leaders of his province on Sunday evening, said Sir Michael’s last words to him was for him to take care of Jiwaka.
“Our dream to become a province dates back to the late 1960s and early 1970s,” he said.
“After 38 years in 2010 and 40 years in 2012, finally three MPs, including me, walked into Parliament as members of the new Jiwaka province.
“We are here to thank the father of the nation for keeping his 1972 promise alive to deliver our Jiwaka province.
“Thank you Sir Michael for giving us PNG and Jiwaka.
“I remember sitting with him at Grand Papua Hotel.
“He shook my hand, looked me in the eyes and said: “It is a promise I lived with it for a long time and I’m happy that you are now finally here to represent the people of Jiwaka.
“I had the opportunity to meet him finally in 2017 on his last day in Parliament, where he again made a brief statement and he said to me: “Lukautim Jiwaka gut (Take good care of Jiwaka).”
“We, the people of Jiwaka, will forever be grateful to you Sir Michael for living up to your promise of 40 years and delivering Jiwaka province,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Jiwaka government has made a funding commitment of K500,000 for the haus krai which would be presented to East Sepik Governor Allan Bird in Wewak.