Kama a man of peace, O’Neill says

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday paid tribute to the late South Bougainville MP and Bougainville Affairs Minister Steven Pirika Kama, saying he was a real peace ambassador.

“He was the bridge between the Autonomous Region Of Bougainville and PNG. AROB is a sensitive issue and the late Kama dealt with this issue carefully,” O’Neill said. 

“He was a generous and a trusted person to work with and I want to thank his family and the people of South Bougainville for sharing his wonderful life with us.”

O’Neill said Kama, 54, was instrumental in reopening the Aropa Airport after it was closed 25 years ago due to the crisis

Kama’s United Resource Party Leader William Duma also expressed similar sentiments at his funeral service at the Sioni Kami Memorial Church in Port Moresby.

His daughter said he was a loving and a hard working father.

Kama lost the 2002 and 2007 elections but won in 2012.