MARAPE’S TRIBUTE TO THE SOMARE GENERATION THAT WITHSTAND SEGREGATION TO UNITE PNG
Prime Minister pays tribute to the “man who united the diverse nation of Papua New Guinea, late Sir Michael Thomas Somare as the nation observe his fifth death anniversary.
Prime Minister James Marape reflects on his last meeting with Sir Michael at Boroka in Port Moresby 11 days before late Sir Michael passed on.
“I was privilege that I was Prime Minister and late grand chief took me into his private place at Boroko 11 days before he passed on. He told me that he was passing on. He spoke to me in the presence of his dear wife, Lady Veronica as well as his elder children.
He said as the country pause to observe Sir Michael’s passing, we must stand to obey the laws of this land and continue to stand united.
“The Somare generation in 1975 just looked into time and fought for political independence,” Marape said.
“As we pause to reflect on his passing, let us not take the lowering of Australian flag for granted. Just because the flag was lowered it must not give us the sense of security that there was no struggle. In the 1960s if you care to read your nation’s history, there were places in our country like Ela Beach for instance where there were postings that this place is not for natives. Because, from these back ground the Buli Beef Club was formed. It was from this background, the Pangu Pati, a party that stood to unite this diverse nation that is call Papua New Guinea today.”
He said standing on that history it is upon each and every Papua New Guinean to live in this nation as law abiding citizens giving priority to the interest of the nation starting from all elected leaders.
Late Sir Michael passed away five years ago and was buried in Kreer Heights in Wewak, East Sepik Province according to his will.
Marape, further conveyed his message to the people of East Sepik that he will be in the province next week to join the people and the Somare family to pay his respect to one of the nation’s founding fathers.
