By NOBERT KOKE
Minister for State Enterprise William Duma on his final tribute to the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in parliament regarded the country’s founding father as ‘a giant among men.’
Minister Duma said late Sir Michael is a very special person and people like him come once in a lifetime.
He first met late Sir Michael in 2000 as deputy Chairman of the PNG Harbours Board.
Duma later join him in parliament after winning the 2002 National Election.
Minister Duma said the late Grand Chief is a man of greater heart of forgiveness.
Duma was first appointed Minister for Environment and Conservation under late Sir Michael as Prime Minister although he wasn’t a member of the initial Kokopo camp.
He under the then Somare government consolidates eight different pieces of confusing and convoluted legislation on environment matters and introduces one single law which became the Environment Act.
He said the first major resource projects to be processed under the new Environment Act was the Ramu Nickel Mine.
“It was through Prime Minister Somare’s leadership and support to the then Mining Minister Hon. Sam Akoitai, that the Ramu Nickel Mine was opened after many years of planning and unnecessary delays, and its Environment Permit was issued by myself under the new Environment Act,” he said.
Minister Duma added that the Grand Chief also chaired the Coalition of Rainforest Nations.
Duma was later appointed the Minister for Petroleum and Energy in late Sir Michael’s coalition Government from 2006-2011.
“I worked closely under his leadership to ensure that the transformational USD$19 billion PNG LNG Project became a reality, resulting in Papua New Guinea joining the exclusive worldwide family of LNG producing nations. I recall many occasions during the negotiations for this resource project when I responded to his call “Duma, I need you to help me on this.”
Duma said while serving nine hard and long years under Somare, he did not witness Sir Michael pushing and approving Cabinet submissions and proposals which would benefit himself personally or his family or appoint his wantok to high positions.
He said the Grand Chief was the main architect of the Papua New Guinea that we all know today.
“Something that would not have been possible without his drive and determination.”
He was the Chairman of the Constitutional Planning Committee as the Chief Minister in 1974 which provided the foundation of our home-grown Constitution. Our home-grown Constitution is still regarded as one of the best in the world.
His vision for the country’s self-governance and Independence inspired others to help him make this dream a reality,” he said.
Duma said he remembers Sir Michael as his Prime Minister, boss, friend and mentor.
“Although we were members of different political parties, he was a father figure to all those of us who entered the political arena in the last two decades.
“It was a real privilege to work with and for a great and special leader who had such a breadth of understanding of all aspects of government and how to get Members of Parliament from all regions of the country to work together for a common cause,” he said.
Minister Duma said the late Sir Michael was a living encyclopaedia of PNG history both pre-Independence and post-Independence.
“He has unfortunately, taken all these with him.
“His passing really is the end of an era for Papua New Guinea. We collectively have a responsibility to fulfil his legacy, and to ensure the continued development of this nation through politics, government, business, and our daily lives as One People, One Country.
“We all mourn Sir Michael’s passing and acknowledge his contribution to the development of this nation – he really was our first Grand Chief,” he said
Well said…👍💯