Son delivers touching tribute

By REBECCA KUKU
MONA Basil, son of the late Deputy Prime Minister and Bulolo MP Sam Basil, says his father was a devoted family man who wanted the best for his wife and children.
“Deputy Prime Minister, United Labour Party leader, Bulolo MP, dad, you will forever be in our hearts, maya sanga (it’s finished now),” were uttered by the younger Basil at his father’s State funeral at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
Mona said regardless of the high office and important roles his father held, he was a committed parent who was interested in his children’s lives.
“He wanted us to take full control of our lives and be independent,” he said.
“This was because dad’s philosophy was all about independence and freedom.”
Mona said his father was born at the Angau General Hospital in Morobe on Nov 16, 1969.
“His mum, Cathy, was from Buang, Morobe, and his dad, Basil, was from Sokepa, Northern.”
Mona said his father was raised in Morobe.
“He later met his wife during the 1995 Pacific Games in Tahiti where he represented the country as a black belt in taekwondo and started working for Steamships Carpenter’s Hardware,” he said.
“He later met Masket Iangalio, a bureaucrat and Enga politician, who was his mentor and encouraged him and motivated him to become a businessman.”
Mona recalled how he accompanied his father campaigning in Bulolo during the 2017 general election.
“There was a heavy rain and strong winds were blowing and dad said we would sleep over at Buang, so we took the back road only to find that the road was blocked by a landslide,” he said.
“Any other man would have just turned back to Lae, but dad said we would walk, and the nearest village was four hours away.
“He grabbed his bag and I grabbed my bag and we started walking, my father had a lot of perseverance and strength to reach his goal.”
Mona said this memory always reminded him that no matter how high the hill was or how long the road was you must work hard to achieve your goals.
“There is a saying, ‘it is not death that a man must fear but he should fear never living’, and my father never feared to live, he lived a life that was full and packed with achievements,” he said.
“These achievements were not for himself but for his people and his country.
“My siblings and I are fortunate to call him father, maya sang.”
Basil, 52, died in a vehicle accident last Wednesday with his close protection officer Neil Maino along the Bulolo Highway in Morobe.
Basil is survived by his mum, two sisters, wife and children.

Bulolo people will support a son to contest: Iguan

By HELEN TARAWA
Iguan said the people of Bulolo loved their MP because of the services he had delivered and wanted the leadership continued.
“There is no question of evidence of what he did, he did much and the people of Wau-Bulolo have respected him and wanted to see him continue in his leadership,” he said.
“They want to see his leadership reach the next level and that is what the people of Bulolo are standing up with him for.
“For him to die on the eve of the election while he was campaigning in his electorate – he met his fate – and in respect they will not let the seat go.
“They respect him and the trust that the people of Wau-Bulolo have they will not let it go, they want to thank him for his service.
“In acknowledging him for the service he had delivered, they have agreed to endorse one of his sons to contest the seat that he had occupied.”
Iguan said the United Labour Party, which Basil had established, officially announced that one of his sons would occupy the seat that he had vacated.
Without giving details of the name of the son, Iguan said the party will announce the name when he is laid to rest.
“In respect to the leader, we will not mention any names at this stage,” he said.
“The supporters and people of PNG must know that the family, the community have already agreed and it is the wish of the people of Wau-Bulolo that the son of late Basil takes his place.
“The formal announcement will be made in the next few days.”
Iguan, who was among many MPs who turned up to pay their respects at the Lie-in-State ceremony yesterday, said it was a great loss.

Sir Bob: Basil a shining example

PAPUA New Guinea needs the kind of leadership portrayed by Bulolo MP and Deputy Prime Minister the late Sam Basil during his term in Parliament, Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae says.
Sir Bob, speaking at Basil’s State funeral at the Sir John Guise Stadium yesterday, said 52-year-old had not been one to shy away or back down when challenged.
“He was not afraid to speak his mind on issues he felt strongly about,” he said.
“By his leadership, Basil has shown that through courage and determination, passion and a sincere heart for the people, one man is capable of achieving great outcomes and causing positive change.
“Basil was a hands-on leader directly involved with his people something the people of Wau-Bulolo appreciated about him.
“He not only talked the talk, he walked the talk for his people.
“On this solemn occasion, we come together as a nation to farewell one of our finest and outstanding leaders whose tragic death in a vehicle accident has left the nation in total shock, disbelief and agony.”
Sir Bob said leader of the United Labour Party was one of a kind.
He was a vibrant and visionary leader passionate about his people.