Vale Sir Michael, our founding father

PAPUA New Guinea woke up on the morning of Feb 26 to the news of the passing of the first prime minister and father of the nation Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
Sir Michael’s passing was announced by daughter Betha Somare around 2:46am through an email to media houses.
“It is with great sadness that I, on behalf of Lady Veronica Somare, announce the passing of her beloved husband, the father of her children and grandchildren and great grandchild Sir Michael Thomas Somare at 12am on Friday Feb 26, 2021,” she said.
Sir Michael led PNG to independence in 1975 and was one of the country’s longest-serving politicians, with a career that spanned five decades.
He served from 1975 to 1980; from 1982 to 1985; and from 2002 to 2011 as prime minister.
He was a pivotal politician in the coming of independence. His political career spanned from 1968 until his retirement in 2017.
Sir Michael has been the longest-serving prime minister (17 years).
Besides that, he was minister of foreign affairs, leader of the opposition and East Sepik governor.
He had a colourful political career.
During his political career, he was a member of the House of Assembly and after Independence in 1975 the parliament for the East Sepik Provincial – later open – seat.
He was the first chief minister at the end of colonial rule.
Thereafter, he became the first prime minister after independence from 1975 to 1980.
Sir Michael returned to the office of prime minister from 1982 to 1985 and his longest stint in the position was from 2002 to 2011.
The nation is in mourning through the many tribes scattered across the length and breadth of PNG – from the highlands to the coast.
The Government has announced a 12-day of mourning which allows everyone to grieve in their own way.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his twitter account wrote: “Vale Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, founding father of democratic and independent PNG and a great friend to Australia”.
He was a friend to all and an enemy to none
PNG is a complex nation, with more than 800 different languages and tribal groups and the name Somare was the gel that held them together.
PNG observers, such as the ABC’s former PNG correspondent Sean Dorney, say it was not an easy task to unite everyone and form one country.
“Sir Michael is absolutely unique and there is no one else in the rest of the Pacific or Australia or New Zealand who has anywhere near the political career that he has had,” Dorney said.
As New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan recalled going back 53 years ago that both he and Sir Michael being elected back to the Second House of Assembly in 1968. “I remember those early days very well,” he said.
“They were days of adventure, days of daring dreams, days when it seemed we could do almost anything we dreamed of doing.
“It was a small group in those first days, a small group of dreamers.
“It included Sir Michael and myself, Sir John Guise, Sir Albert Maori Kiki, Sir John Kaputin and just a few others.”
Sir Michael was the captain of the ship and with a great crew by his side, he manoeuvred through uncharted waters.
He had to keep a country of a thousand tribes united, even though some parts of the country were adamant on breaking away.
Vale Sir Michael!