Transformation from a colony

HISTORY

Brief history by a former member in the second House of Assembly.

By MECK SINGILION
THOMAS Bunbun from Rabaul represented the New Guinea Islands region, Kondum Agaundo from Chimbu the Highlands region, Sir John Guise from Milne Bay the Papua region and Pita Simogun from East Sepik represented Momase.
The above four leaders were not elected by Papua New Guineans but by the Australian colony during the Legislative Council times. Their work was reported by the Australian Government and are all recorded in the Australia records in Canberra. These leaders were chosen and elected by the colonial masters.
This all happened between 1950 and 1960. The Commonwealth of Australia in Canberra appointed these gentlemen to take care of the four regions in Papua New Guinea.
From 1960 to 1964 Somu Sigop was elected by locals to represent Momase region taking over from Pita Simogun. Sir John Guise got his seat back to represent the Papuan region, Thomas Bunbun was re-elected to represent the New Guina Islands and Kondum Agaundo was re-elected to represent the Highlands region.
These members declared that Papua New Guineans must drink alcohol and buy guns just like the white colonial rulers from 1961 to 1964 and it did happen but by licences only and in separation forms where whites wereon their own while natives on their own. Racial discrimination was still there which did not go down well with Sir Michael Thomas Somare during those days.
From 1964 was the first House of Assembly established by these leaders took over from the Legislative Council dominated by the Australian colonial administration.
After the Second World War, from 1942 to 1950 Australia was taking charge of PNG for eight years.
From 1960 to 1964, the natives came together to elect their own members in the PNG Legislative Council. The council started in 1950 andtoperated for up to 14 years. Then came the first House of Assembly in 1964 as well.
My leadership started in 1962 and ran until 1968 during which time I became a ward councillor and as president. I became the member for Finschafen during the second House of Assembly from 1968 to 1972.
PNG was colonised for 22 years from 1942. The PNG government was established to take control of itself in the first House of Assembly in 1964, the second House in 1968 and the third House in 1972.
PNG got self-government in 1973 and Independence in 1975. The name House of Assembly was later changed to National Parliament in 1977.
Sir Michael Thomas Somare was elected in 1968 representing the people of East Sepik regional while I was elected that same year representing Finschafen in the second House of Assembly.
Pangu Pati
Pangu Patiwas launched in 1967 by Tonny Voutas, Barry Holloway, Sir Albert Maori Kiki and Sir Michael Thomas Somare who were the interim executives during those days when Somare was not yet elected. In 1967 when attending the PNG Administrative College in 1966 and 1967, he was elected interim executive to the Pangu Pati.
He contested the East Sepik Regional seat and automatically became the party leader and brought the country into independence.
I was born on March 30, 1934 in the little hamlet of Unseseu village in Hube area of the inland Finschafen of the Morobe. I represented my people as a chief of the councils by what was known earlier as the Finschafen Area Authority.
I was elected by the Finschafen Area Authority in 1968 to the second House of Assembly. It was also during my reign where I had teamed up with the late Great Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare.
I was elected as the council member and the president to the Pindiu Local Level Government Council established in 1964.
After my election victory to the second House of Assembly in 1968 I was offered ministerial portfolios as the Assistant Minister for Rural Development and Livestock. After two years in 1970, I was also taking charge of Correctional Services which was newly established. The two portfolios were under my care till 1972.
After 1972 I returned to Pindiu and was elected as the president of the LLG.
Area authority
In 1977 the provincial area authority was established, and I represented the 33 members of the Morobe Area Authority as the deputy president and the charmain spearheading the formation of the Morobe Provincial Law and Constitution Reform and Development.
While in the position of the chairman to the Morobe Area Authority, the provincial law and constitution was enacted for the Morobe government to be born.
I automatically became the deputy premier of Morobe from 1978 to 1981.
Later the Interim Morobe Provincial Government was established, and I became the Deputy Premier.
Provincial government
Morobe Provincial Government came into full operation and I was elected to represent the Mongi Constituency and later came into the Morobe Provincial Assembly as a member from 1980 to 1984.
From 1984 to 2021 I have a standing duty to perform my duty as a former leader in officiating and contributing my leadership guidance and mentorship to the current generation of leaders.
I mentored leaders in the likes of former senior State minister Alfred Pogo and current Member for Finschafen and Minister for National Planning Ranbo Paita.
Also, during my time as the premier of Morobe I had made possible the settlement of two prominent business leaders of Morobe, Sir Bob Sinclair the owner of Lae Builders company and Sir Soekendar Tjandra, owner of the Papindo group of companies to freely participate in business development in partnersip with the Morobe provincial assembly or Tutumang.
Let me express my gratitude and sincere appreciation to the late Great Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare for bringing forth the political light to this country and yet leaving an enormous task for you all the next technological generation of this era to continue and improve in the coming decades, centuries and millennia.
May our Anutu mamac bless us all.