PNG loses another founding father, Sir Pita Lus at age 84 (1937 -2021)
MEMBER for Maprik and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock John Simon has confirmed the death of senior Statesman and one of the country’s founding father, Sir Pita Lus on Thursday night at his home in Wewak, East Sepik.
The body of the late Statesman and one of the founders of Pangu Pati body arrived in Port Moresby yesterday afternoon at 2pm received by the Acting Prime Minister Soroi Eoe and other Government Ministers.
Sir Pita Lus was one of the few Papua New Guineans who constituted the nation during pre-independence together with late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Sir Paul Lapun, Sir Ebia Olewale and others.
Sir Pita was one Papua New Guinean to have sat in all seven House of Assembly Parliament during the colonial days to independence.
Sir Pita was born in Maprik district on September 16, 1935 and with no opportunity for schooling beyond grade four, he was sent to East New Britain where he was employed as a cook and then to New Ireland Province as a labourer.
In 1950, he travelled to Manus where he was involved in a strike for better working conditions. He returned to Maprik in 1957 and with family assistance he got attached to the South Seas Evangelical Mission where he learnt to write and speak tokpisin.
In 1964 Sir Pita won the Maprik Seat which was the first elections for the House of Assembly.
Sir Pita choose the date for independence in 1974 when they were deciding a possible date which is 16 September also his birthday.
Late Sir Pita served in the House of Assembly since then and held various portfolios of culture and recreation, police, education, commerce and parliament services.
Over the years, Sir Pita developed a reputation for fiery rhetoric and unruly parliamentary behaviour but retained solid support within his electorate.
He was also the patron of an association founded by menfolk from Maprik District called the Wisdom Hausman Melanesia Christian Network Inc.
In April this year, Sir Pita indicated his intention to make a comeback in the 2022 National General Elections for the last time and formally retire from politics and the commonwealth and declare economic independence and also release his blessings to the younger generations of leaders.
He was knighted in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II and died at the age of 84.
The national government will make an official announcement in the coming days on his funeral arrangements.