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TradePolitics

cific’s most remarkable political career, Sir Minister for Foreign Affairs following the
Michael gave a message to young people formation of the Morauta government in
of his country. July 1999, then Minister for Mining and
“To this generation of Papua New Bougainville Affairs in December 1999 be-
Guinea, I thank you all for your love and fore returning as Minister for Foreign and
protection, I gave my best years to this Bougainville Affairs in November 2000 in a
country by serving as a politician, I hope cabinet reshuffle. He was decommission as
each one of you will also contribute to our a minister in the Morauta government on
country.” in December 2000 and assumed the role
Sir Michael was first elected to the sec- of Leader of Opposition upon the resigna-
ond House of Assembly for East Sepik tion of then opposition leader Bill Skate,
Regional seat in the 1968 General Elec- on November 2001.
tions. He became the parliamentary leader He got re-elected again to the 7th
of Pangu Pati. National Parliament in the 2002 Gen-
In 1972 General Elections, he was re- eral Elections for the same seat. He was
elected to the third House of Assembly elected Prime Minister in August 2002.
and first National Parliament for the same He was also Minister for State Enterprises,
seat. He was elected Chief Minister of Communication and Information in July
self-governing Territory of Papua and New 2006 and Minister for Foreign Affairs
Guinea and in September 1975, he was and Immigration in August 2006. He was
sworn in as the first Prime Minister of the awarded the Honorary Companion of Fiji
since 1965; they have six children. Independent State of PNG. in August 2005 and Grand Companion of
“I am a man of principle, rules determine Sir Michael got re-elected to the second the Order of Logohu (GCL) in September
my conduct throughout my life, and I National Parliament for the same seat in 2005. He was Minister for Internal Affairs
am blessed with a woman who has been the 1977 elections and was re-elected in October 2006.
my friend and guide since we were both Prime Minister. He was appointed member Sir Michael was again re-elected to the
young,” he said. of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. 8th National Parliament in the 2007 Gener-
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill also gave a In March 1980, he became Leader of Op- al Elections for the same seat as a National
speech at parliament in which he paid trib- position following a vote of no confidence. Alliance Party candidate and subsequently
ute to Sir Michael’s guidance of PNG from Then he was re-elected to the third National re-elected Prime Minister in August 2007.
being a colony to an independent state. Parliament in the 1982 General Elections He also took on responsibilities as Minister
“He fought against intolerance and for the same seat and alsore-elected Prime for Autonomy and Autonomous Regions
doubt, often based on racial bias, and Minister. in 2007 and as Minister for Transport and
told the world that Papua New Guinea In November 1985, he became Leader Civil Aviation in 2009. He was replaced as
could and would become an Independent of Opposition following another vote of Prime Minister by Peter O’Neill on August
State,” said Mr O’Neill. “His position was no confidence. He again was re-elected 2, 2011. He was removed as member of
supported by so many eminent people of to fourth National Parliament in the 1987 parliament on December 9, 2011 but later
our nation, and he turned that support into General Elections and became Leader of reinstated as member and Prime Minister
a plan for independence.” Opposition. In June 1988, he resigned as by the Supreme Court on December 12,
Mr O’Neill said while he and Sir Michael Leader of Opposition and Pangu Pati . He 2011.
did not always see eye to eye politically, was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs In 1976, Sir Michael received an Hon-
he was grateful for the opportunity and in July 1988. orary Doctorate of Humanities from the
grounding that the experience of working He got re-elected again to the 5th Na- University of the Philippines and was
under Grand Chief gave him. tional Parliament in the 1992 General appointed member of Her Majesty’s Privy
On behalf of all PNG MPs, Mr O’Neill Elections. He became Leader of Opposition Council in 1977 following his re-election
expressed gratitude and best wishes to and Leader of Pangu Pati in August. He as Prime Minister. He was awarded an
Lady Veronica, thanking her for her sup- then relinquished Pangu Pati leadership to Honorary Doctorate of Law from the Aus-
port for Sir Michael right throughout his Chris Haiveta in August 1993. He became tralian National University (ANU) in 1979,
long career in parliament. “I also thank foundation Governor for East Sepik Prov- and was made Member of the Order of the
his children who have supported him, and ince from 1995 to 1997. He founded the Companion of Honour by the Queen in Her
contributed in their own way, to our nation National Alliance in 1997 - later renamed Birthday Honours List of 1979. He was
and our community,” Mr O’Neill said. the People’s National Alliance, then Na- awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the
One of Sir Michael’s sons Arthur Somare tional Alliance Party - and subsequently University of Technology in Lae in 1982
was a former politician, serving two terms made Leader of National Alliance Party and appointed a Member of the Knightly
as local member for Angoram open in the since the party’s inception. Association of St. George and Martyr in
East Sepik province. One of Sir Michael’s Sir Michael got re-elected again to the 1984. In 1986, he received an Honor-
daughters Dulcie Somare will be contest- sixth National Parliament in the 1997 ary Doctor of Laws by the University of
ing the East Sepik Regional seat which Sir General Elections. He became Governor Papua New Guinea. Sir Michael was made
Michael is vacating in this elections. for East Sepik Province from July 1997 till a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St.
“We will miss his wisdom and knowl- July 1999. He was appointed member of Michael and St. George (GCMG) by the
edge, and the experience that can only Private Business Committee from July 1997 Queen in the Birthday Honour List of 1990.
come from fourth-nine years of elected to July 1999 and Pensions and Retirement He was awarded the Knight of the Order
service,” Mr O’Neill told parliament. Benefits Committee deputy chairman from of Saint John (K.St.J.) in August 2004.
Before he drew the curtain on the Pa- March in July 1999. Then he became r vulumsam@hotmail.com

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