Sir Michael was a gift from God

I AM from the Arapesh, Niaura and Abelam tribes of East Sepik.
Much has been said about the life of the father of Papua New Guinea, but as a daughter of Sepik, I want to say thank you to our nation’s founding father, Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare.
Thank you grand chief for believing in us, the people of Papua New Guinea.
Your belief in what we could be as a nation was a big part of what brought us to where we are today.
There were many stories told to us over the years and these past two weeks of this great man.
There was one story that stood out the most for me as not only a daughter of Sepik but a daughter of PNG.
When grand chief sought independence for our nation, the white men told him: “You’ll be independent but where are your engineers doctors lawyers, economists and people to run the country?”
In response, Sir Michael pointed to the Papua New Guinean women and replied to them: “yupela lukim ol meri sanap ya, ol bai karim ol engineers, doctors, lawyers na economists bilong kirapim Papua New Guinea” (You see these women, they will give birth to engineers, doctors, lawyers and economist that will build Papua New Guinea).
He spoke it into existence and here I am today.
I am on my way to becoming a lawyer, which was one of the things he knew and believed this and future generations could be for this country.
Sir Michael was truly a gift from God to PNG.
I deeply regret that I never thanked him in person for all that he did for our nation.

Shauna Supro,
Law Student