Sir Michael Somare

Sir Michael was invited to New Ireland by Governor Sir Julius Chan, to farewell him the New Ireland way.

The elders and Maimais (chiefs), including Sir Julius and other New Ireland MPs, were at the airport this morning.

Sir Michael, who flew in on a chartered plane was given a motorcade around Kavieng town.

School children and residents lined the streets, chanting "thank you Grand Chief for giving birth to PNG”.

This was what the National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop, said when farewelling the country’s first prime minister and retired East Sepik Governor.

“Grand Chief, we all love you and fondly refer to you as ‘Father of the nation’. Indeed, this is a title and honour you rightly deserve,” Parkop said in Port Moresby on Wednesday.  

“You are the reason for its survival and progress because you are the foundation that has held this country together for 42 years. Whether we admit it or deny it, a fact is a fact.

“I am sure I will miss my old stomping ground, parliament house, but am also looking forward to fishing, swimming and enjoying time with my people of Sepik, my family, and especially my grandchildren,” retired East Sepik Governor and country’s first prime minister said.

Sir Michael also paid tribute to the customary landowners of now Port Moresby.

“Importantly, I take the opportunity to thank the Motu - Koitabu people who have always been gracious and welcoming since I first stepped onto their land of Papua in the mid-1950s.”

Instead, it has been rescheduled to start at 12:30pm today.

The program will go ahead at this time as planned. It starts with a farewell program at the parliament house, then to the Constitutional Park where the East Sepik Council of Chiefs will host their farewell program.

A motorcade is then organised to proceed from the park to the former self-government office, now the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, located at Konedobu.

Governor-General Bob Dadae will sign the 111 writs on April 20 to start the candidate nomination period.   

“Grand Chief’s blessing is with the PNG National Party,” said Kerenga Kua, party parliamentary leader.  

“Other people will claim the same rights, but I want to tell you, I have been with him for 15-20 years, and I have been very close to his heart, and his heart is with the PNG National Party.

“When he does something he does not do it lightly, he is a man who does everything after careful thought and consideration and that picture up there means something.”

The retired East Sepik Governor who bowed out of politics serving his people for 49 consecutive years was addressing the NBC Press Club in Port Moresby today.   

“Do not submit one or two stories a day and think that your job is done,” Sir Michael said.

“You are among the population of eight million people today who have had the benefit of tertiary education.

“Use your time wisely, especially out of work, to give back to Papua New Guinea.

“Be challenged by the current political climate to do more.”

“He will not be responsible for an electorate but he will be on the floor of parliament to be a mentor to all of us,” said Kerenga Kua, National Party parliamentary leader.         

Sir Michael, who is Papua New Guinea’s first prime minister, retired from active politics after 49 consecutive years of serving his East Sepik people.      

“I want to pay tribute to him, his wife, family and people of East Sepik for the wisdom of putting up this man,” Kua said.

Prime Minister O’Neill said this when acknowledging Sir Michael’s final speech in Parliament today.

O’Neill said Parliament will be a different place when it convenes after the National Elections.

He said today’s sitting marked a milestone for the country and Sir Michael as the curtain came down on his illustrious political career.

“Honorable Members, I thank the Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare, for his contribution to Papua New Guinea, to the National Parliament, and for guiding us to Independence.

That was the final message from retiring East Sepik Governor and Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in Parliament today.

Today was Sir Michael’s final day as a politician after 49 years representing the people of East Sepik Province.  

 “I practise national unity and I am proud to be called the father of the nation.

“When we swore to the Bible at the Government House, we are promising that we are the servant to the people, it is important to be fit and healthy in this house, to know the importance of parliamentary systems,” Sir Michael said.

Despite the late start of Parliament, all Members of Parliament and people in the public gallery gave a standing ovation to the country’s three-time Prime Minister.

There was total silence in Parliament as Papua New Guinea’s first prime minister gave his final speech. 

Today marks exactly 49 years ago (April 4, 1968) that Sir Michael first entered the House of Assembly in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea as a politician.

A humbled Sir Michael said it was a privilege to serve the people of Papua New Guinea.