Sir Micheal Somare

Vanuatu PM to pay final respects to Somare at ‘haus krai’

The week-long ‘haus krai’ has been hosted by the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the secretariat headquarters.

MSG Acting Director General, George Hoa'au said the closure will coincide with the state funeral of Sir Michael.

Last night dozens of people attended a candle light vigil at the ‘haus krai’.

Sir Micheal, PNG’s longest serving leader died in Port Moresby last month.

He is one of the founding fathers of the MSG.

He will be laid to rest in his home province East Sepik.

 

PNG's founding father Sir Michael Somare dies

Sir Michael died in the early hours of this morning after being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and admitted to hospital a week ago.

The Grand Chief, as Sir Michael was known, served as prime minister in four separate stints over a period of seventeen years.

As Chief Minister of the former Australian territory, Sir Michael helped usher PNG to independence in 1975, becoming its first prime minister later that year.

He retired from parliament in 2017 after over five decades in politics.