Hela dream comes full circle

By HELEN TARAWA
No Hela, no gas, was the message that leaders of the province which was once part of Southern Highlands, gave to Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
The leaders of Hela who gathered at the national haus krai on Monday evening thanked Sir Michael for listening to their plight for independence and giving them Hela. Governor Philip Undialu said if it was not for Sir Michael, they would not have had the province.
“On behalf of the 500,000 people of Hela, I am so humbled and heartbroken because of the loss of the great man we all love and cherish,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for this man, his vision and leadership, we would not have been free and enjoyed the benefits of having provincial governments.
“I am proud and humbled that I have my own identity.”
Undialu acknowledged Sir Michael for funding the PNGLNG project with other leaders in Arthur Somare, Patrick Pruaitch, the late Anderson Agiru, James Marape, their politicians and public servants in various capacities.
Another Hela leader and managing director of Trans Wonderland Ltd Larry Andagali spoke of an MP who thumped the table in Parliament and said: “No Hela, no gas” and he walked out.
“Somare did not reject him, he brought him back in and asked what he wanted.
“He saw the future and saw what this country needed.
“Brought this young man under his wing and rewarded him with the education ministry and he became the chairman of Hela purpose authority and that was the beginning of Hela province.
“Today, after his passing, the very man that he had groomed is now the chief mourner and prime minister of PNG, James Marape.
“East Sepik Governor Allan Bird and Marape, both of you join hands and take our Grand Chief and lay him to rest.”

K8 million contributed to ‘haus krai’

NEARLY K8 million has been raised through contributions by provincial governments to the haus krai of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
Hela and Southern Highlands contributed K2.5 million each towards the Somare Foundation which would be established by the Government.
Hela Governor Philip Undialu said there was nothing more fitting as a gift for the noble man, Sir Michael.
“I cannot thank God enough. No value of money could compensate and reward this great man,” he said.
“As we mourn this man, there is nothing more fitting as a token for him. The compensation and reward to this man cannot be measured by money, wealth and projects of that measure.”
Undialu said Sir Michael was “the greatest man” that the country has ever had.
“All those commitments can come to support and continue to carry his name,” he said.
“We can propose Michael Somare Foundation. That should be the legacy for Sir Michael.
“The commitments made by the Kutubus, Hides and Southern Highlands, we also committed K2.5mil and let his name remain.”
Southern Highlands Governor William Powi also made a commitment of K500,000 every year for five years, a total of K2.5m.
He acknowledged the leaders who turned up to mourn the death of Sir Michael.
Leaders from Kutubu and Hides made commitments of K1mil each and together with other contributions including West New Britain K300,000, Jiwaka K500,000 and others equals to almost K8 million.

Woginara, Dagua people in Wau mourn Chief’s passing

PEOPLE from Dagua and Woginara in East Sepik living in the mining township of Wau, Morobe, joined the rest of the country in mourning the death of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
They were either dressed in black or covered in black – a sign of grieving – since last week, according to spokesman Wayne Sia.
“All of us living here in Wau town showed our sorrow by wearing black clothes and painted faces with mud,” he said.
“This is to show how much we feel the loss that the country is also facing now.” The settlers set up their mourning house at the Forot mining settlement.
Many people from other parts of the country in Wau also remembered the great man in their own way as the country headed into the last days of the two-week mourning period.
Being from the same province as Sir Michael, this group of people showed their utmost respect to the man who brought this country independence and became its first prime minister.
According to Sia, the Arapesh people from Dagua gave their story dating back years into the history of politics in the country.
In East Sepik, the late Sir Peter Simogun was recognised for his leadership during World War II.
The Australian government, upon recognising Simogun’s efforts, bestowed him with the highest honour after the war.
Sia said Simogun played a crucial role in assisting the allied forces to fight against the invading Japanese army and defeated them.
“He later became a member of the legislative council in the early 1960s and met a young Papua New Guinean high school teacher who later worked as a journalist with Radio Wewak,” he said.
“Somogun introduced Sir Michael to politics at that time.”
Sir Michael later resigned as a journalist and entered politics in 1968 and won the East Sepik regional seat and became the first provincial member for East Sepik.
Sia added that the people of Arapesh, Woginara and others from Yangoru and Maprik living in Wau were saddened by the passing of Sir Michael.