The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has paid tribute to the Papua New Guinea founding father, Grand Chief the late Sir Michael Somare.
Conveying the Solomon Islands’ sincere condolences to the family, Prime minister, and the people of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Sogavare describes him as the “Pacific leader whose leadership legacy is irreplaceable”.
He added, the late Sir Michael Somare is a political pioneer and a pillar of strength not only for Papua New Guinea but for Melanesia and the Pacific Region.
“Sir Michael Somare is not only a leader for Papua New Guinea but also a leader of the Melanesian block as well as the wider Pacific region. He has left a leadership vacuum that can’t be matched by the current and future generations.”
PNG’s first Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare died last Friday at a ripe age of 84 after battling a pancreatic cancer.
The Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was known as the father of the nation and served as PNG’s prime minister in four separate stints over a period of seventeen years.
He has helped Papua New Guinea attained its political independence in 1975 where he became the first prime minister.
by Gina Maka’a
