Late Hon. Sam Basil

Present to receive the casket at the airport, was Prime Minister James Marape, Minister in charge of National Events Justin Tkatchenko, fellow MPs and members of the United Labor Party.

Relatives and the general community in Port Moresby showed up to mourn with the family of the late Deputy Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Marape described the death of the late Deputy as incomprehensible and unexpected.

Opposition Leader Belden Namah has expressed sorrow at the passing of Deputy Prime Minister and Bulolo MP, Sam Basil. 
 
“It is with the heaviest of heart that I received the news of the tragic passing of our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, the Member of Bulolo and the Leader of the United Labour Party, Sam Basil,” Namah stated.
 

Athough it was a rematch of last Sunday's big showdown against the Kimbe Rebels it was quite special and an emotional victory for the Morobe boys dedicated to the memories of the late MP.

The Hammerheads beat Rebels 17-5 to claim the round-two trophy.

According to Hammerheads Assistant Coach Joseph Wamapiri, after the news broke out of the late MPs tragic passing, the team observed a moment silence to show their respects before they started their pool matches on Saturday. Their back-to-back wins were also dedicated to Late Basil.

Minister in charge of National Events, Justin Tkatchenko, informed the media this afternoon that for the next three days, a national haus krai will be held to honour the national leader. 
 
On Monday, the haus krai will begin at 5pm the Sir John Guise stadium. The public is welcome to attend. 
 
On Tuesday, a lie-in-state ceremony will be accorded to the late Deputy Prime Minister at the grandhall, Parliament house followed by a State Funeral at 2pm. 
 

"Sam Basil was a genuine man of the people and served his electorate with distinction. He was unrelenting in his pursuit to improve the lives of his people. He represented PNG on the World stage, most recently at the World Expo in Dubai, but he was truly at his happiest at home in Wau- Bulolo with his people.”

“We pray for God’s Hand on the country at this sad time and it is a big loss to his family, people of Bulolo, Morobe, United Labour Party and Papua New Guinea, as we try to come to terms with his passing,” said the Prime Minister.

PM Marape said he was a strong member of the present generation of leaders in Government who had the country at heart

“What makes his untimely passing even sadder is the fact that it happened only hours before nominations open for the 2022 General Election.

Local police attended to the accident site and immediately retrieved the Deputy Prime Minister and 3 other injured persons and transported them to Bulolo to seek medical attention at the Bulolo Health facility. 

After hours of attempting to revive the late Deputy Prime Minister he was pronounced clinically dead at 11:30 this evening (11 May 2022).