Nauru pays tribute to PNG’s Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare
Government Information Office
MEDIA
RELEASE
For
Immediate Release
Friday,
26 February, 2021
Nauru pays tribute to
PNG's Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare
His
Excellency President Lionel Rouwen Aingimea extended heartfelt
sympathies and deepest condolences from the people and Government
of Nauru to the people of Papua New Guinea on the passing of the
first prime minister of PNG, Sir Michael Thomas Somare.
In a
letter addressed to the PNG Prime Minister the Honourable James
Marape, President Aingimea says, "It is with profound sadness that
I have learned of the passing of Papua New Guinea's 'Father of the
Nation' and first Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare
GCL,GCMG,CH CF, SSI, KSG, PC.
"Sir
Michael was truly a man of the region, one of whom to be admired
and respected. His passing is a great loss not only for his
immediate family and friends but also a great loss to his people
and the Pacific region."
Sir
Michael passed away at 12am on Friday 25 February 2021 at the age
of 84. His family issued a statement announcing his
passing.
"Sir
Michael was only diagnosed with a late stage of pancreatic cancer
in early February and was admitted to hospital on Friday 19
February 2021. Sadly, pancreatic cancer is one of the most
aggressive cancers that are rarely detected early. We as a family
had only two weeks to look for possible treatments for our father,"
the statement said.
Known as
the father of the nation, he led PNG to independence from Australia
in 1975 and was one of the country's longest-serving politicians,
with a career that spanned 49 years. He served as prime minister
for four terms (17 years) until 2011.
Michael
Thomas Somare was born on 9 April, 1936 in Rabaul, a coastal town
in what was then the Australian mandated territory of New Guinea,
and raised in the East Sepik Province, a region he went on to
represent in parliament.
In 1972,
Sir Michael was elected as Chief Minister of the territory and
three years later PNG gained its independence, and at the age of
just 39 Michael Somare became PNG's first prime
minister.
He was
knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990.
He is
survived by his wife Lady Veronica Somare and their five
children.