Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare

Located at Speedway – New block, the haus sore was set up on Tuesday where residents gathered to remember and celebrate the life of the founding father.

Children and youth rubbed mud all over their faces to show their grief.

Spokesperson of the community, Isaiah Jawa, said: “Ol pikinini ol rabim graun na ol stap ya, ol i harim stori lo ol parents blo ol na seniors blo ol, olsem Somare em disla man husat bringim indipendens. Indipendens min olsem mipla self-governed that mipla ken mekim samting insait lo democracy.

The people of MotuKoita were the first to visit with members of the Somare family. 

The Haus Krai will run for the next two weeks.

Provincial groups have been scheduled to come and spend time with the Somare family and grieve with them during this time of mourning. 

Like any haus krai, the event started off with fellowship and beautiful Motu singing.

The Haus Krai is being co-hosted by the National Capital District Commission.

In a statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 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,” he stated.

“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, Howard, Rudd and Gillard.

This is in respect of the passing of the founding father and the first Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

The founding father passed away at Pacific International Hospital in the early hours of Friday 26th of February.

Department of Personnel Management Secretary, Taies Sansan, in a circular issued to all heads of departments, heads of line agencies, provincial administrators and all public servants, announced NEC has endorsed two weeks of mourning and two days of public holiday which fall on;

Many warmly reminisced about the determined and patriotic Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare who never faltered in his vision of a free Papua New Guinea.

Among them was former Lae MP and Treasury and Finance Minister, Bart Philemon, who was unable to restrain himself when Lae media visited him at his Butibam home yesterday (Feb 26).

“My heart is sad,” he said, shakily wiping away tears.

“I feared for being interviewed for such a person because I would get very emotional.”

After regaining a bit of composure, Philemon shared his memory of the ‘60s.

Today started off very slow throughout the country as Papua New Guineans came to terms with the passing of a great man who led a divided Papua New Guinea into a united and independent one.

Prime Minister James Marape announced this afternoon that the country will grieve for the next two weeks.

The Prime Minister said the cabinet has approved for Monday 1^st of March and Friday 12^th of March to be a nationwide public holiday to honour and pay respect to the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.