Bank South Pacific as the leading Bank in the Pacific joins the rest of PNG as it mourns the loss of the country’s founding father and first Prime Minister, the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare. “It is with sadness that we hear of the passing of our Founding Father of the nation, the Late Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare in the early hours of this morning, Friday 26th February 2021, at the age of 84, after succumbing to cancer.” That is from the BSP Group CEO Robin Fleming. “As the country comes to realisation of the loss of…
Author: PNG Haus Bung
Charisma! Michael Thomas Somare had it by the canoe load. Papua New Guinea’s Father of the Nation, the Grand Chief, who has just died of pancreatic cancer, has left an enduring legacy. He lived to the age of 84 – an extraordinary innings in a country where the average life expectancy is 20 years short of that at 64. But he achieved so much he could have been 104. In the general history of Papua New Guinea that I authored – last updated in the year 2000 and covering PNG’s first quarter-century of independence – Somare is mentioned on no…
“The students of the University of Papua New Guinea led by the East Sepik student president and the UPNG SRC President walked up to late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s residence from where buses left us at Garden Hills to pay our respects.” “As we got there, we sang the National Anthem.” “We cried as the lyrics became heavy to utter.” #RestinPowerTunga #KingoftheNorth Emmanuel Wanya Neuendorf on the passing of late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare – Story taken from Facebook showing PNG mourning
“Grand Chief Sir Michael; among the saddest news in my life of your passing reached me in my village at Wewak at 2 am Friday morning.” “I grieved through the wee hours of the morning, and at 8 am, I carried out the NIAMDAR Tradition of “Death Notice” by beating the garamut in 8 slow single beats.” “Tears rolled down my cheeks as I did.” “Among all Great Leaders of Nations! My pride and joy was and remains in my lifetime that you originated from the leadership tenets of the “NIAMDAR”. RIP.” Alois Jerewai in Wewak on the passing of…
“Fiji has lost a dear friend with the passing of former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.” “He was more than PNG’s founding father, his legacy as an architect of regional unity lives on in the hearts of all Pacific people.” “I deeply regret that I cannot be in PNG to pay my respects.” Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama on the passing of late Sir Michael Somare
Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s former Chief of Staff, Mr Paul Bengo, will represent the family from time to time in issuing public statements from the family as they prepare the funeral arrangements of their late beloved father. Sir Michael handpicked Mr Paul Bengo out of UPNG in 1973 to be his Principle Private Secretary, taking over from the young Sir Rabbie Namaliu at the time. Since then Mr Bengo has been a loyal public servant for many years, serving in many capacities both in provincial and National Government. After the passage of the Organic Law on Political Parties…
It is with much sadness and sorrow that New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan learned of the passing of his dear friend and fellow founding father Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare. Sir J after returning from a hectic trip to New Hanover the night before, awoke to the sad news this morning at his home in Kavieng, New Ireland Province. Sir J described Sir Michael as a humble and natural born leader who was destined to lead the Independent Nation of Papua New Guinea. He conveyed his deepest sympathy to Lady Veronica Somare and their five children Betha, Sana, Arthur,…
Australia extends its deep condolences to the Somare family and the people of Papua New Guinea on the passing of Grand chief Sir Michael Somare. Sir Michael was a towering figure in the history of Papua New Guinea. As a driving force in the development of Papua New Guinea’s national constitution, and the nation’s first and longest-serving Prime Minister, Sir Michael has an unparalleled place in the history of Papua New Guinea. As Prime Minister for 17 years, over four separate terms, Sir Michael became a long-standing and respected friend of Australia, working alongside Australian Prime Ministers Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke,…
Prime Minister James Marape has expressed great sadness at the passing of Founding Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, in the early hours of this morning. “it is with great sorrow and grief that I announce the passing of the Father of our Nation, Grand Chief Sir Micheal Thomas Somare,” he said. “His Doctor texted me that at 12:10 am today that the great man was rested. “God gives and God rested him from the pain and toils of life. “There is a season for every thing, a time to born and a time to die, ” as the…
Papua New Guinea has recorded another COVID-19 death bringing the total number of deaths from to 12 on Thursday 25 February. A 63 year old male from West Sepik province is the latest reported COVID-19 death. He was admitted to Sandaun Provincial Hospital on the 19th of this month until his death. The death comes as 89 new cases have been reported in West Sepik, West New Britain, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and in the National Capital District. This is the highest number of cases reported in a single day since the beginning of the pandemic in PNG. A…