He attended CHOGM in a skirt
‘PROUD to be Papua New Guinean’ is a phrase that comes to mind when describing Prime Minister Dr. Sir Michael Somare. During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Papua New Guinea’s prime minister shocked Ugandans when he turned up for the conference wearing a blue laplap (Fij
‘PROUD to be Papua New Guinean’ is a phrase that comes to mind when describing Prime Minister Dr. Sir Michael Somare. During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Papua New Guinea’s prime minister shocked Ugandans when he turned up for the conference wearing a blue laplap (Fijian traditional skirt for men) and a coat.
Somare’s respect for his culture also stunned australians in March 2005.
At a departure security check at Brisbane Airport, Australia, when Somare was forced to remove his shoes, he said this was a humiliation, because an elder like him should not have been treated like that.
This created a diplomatic rift between the two countries. A protest march in Port Moresby saw hundreds march on the Australian High Commission demanding an apology.
The man behind the skirt:
After a brief stint as a teacher, Somare became a radio broadcaster based in Wewak in the East Sepik Province. Following many conflicts with his superiors over his political remarks, he was transferred from broadcasting to administration.
He left radio to contest the elections for the second House of Assembly in 1968 as a Pangu Party member.
Somare and eight other Pangu Party members were elected, but declined to join the coalition government, making him the first opposition leader.
Following the third House of Assembly elections in 1972, Somare, formed a coalition government, where he became prime minister and internal finance minister.
Somare was a key figure in preparing his country for independence in 1975.
He has received several honourary doctorates, the first being from the University of the Philippines in 1976.
He was appointed a member of Her Majesty’s Imperial Privy Council in 1977 and was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) by the Queen in the Birthday Honour
List of 1990
In 2005 Princess Anne, The Princess Royal vested in him the title Grand Chief the Right Honourable Sir Michael Somare
His culture:
Somare’s pride in his culture, led him to being appointed as sana (peacemaker) in 1973.
In his autobiography Sana (1975), Somare describes his love for culture.
In 1971, he was concerned that the sacred spears (kakars) and flutes, were being destroyed or stolen. After a lot of negotiation with priests he arranged to have the kakars of his village photographed for easy identification.
The kakars were handled by senior priests and only brought out when they were being handed to another generation (orob). Somare was too young to be allowed to see the spears, but was included in the ceremony of handing them to the next generation as the interpreter for the photographer.
His personal life:
Somare married his wife Veronica in 1965, having courted her in traditional fashion. They have five children and eight grandchildren. Somare is head of both his family and that of his wife, who initiated him into their title mindamot two days after his initiation as sana.
Somare fact file
Born: April 9, 1936
Education
1946-1957: attended Boram Primary School and Sogeri High School, graduating with a Leaving Certificate
1962-1963: Teacher training at Sogeri High School
1965: Training in radiobroadcasting at the Administrative College at Waigani
Work experience: Taught at several primary and secondary schools
1963: Radio broadcaster Political life:
1957: Founded the PANGU Party
1975-1980; 1982-1985: Prime minister under PANGU party
1988-1992: Foreign minister
1995: Founded National Alliance Party after falling out with PANGU
1999: Foreign minister for a few months
July 2006: Foreign minister
2007-to date: Prime minister under National Alliance Party and foreign minister
Adapted from online sources
Somare’s respect for his culture also stunned australians in March 2005.
At a departure security check at Brisbane Airport, Australia, when Somare was forced to remove his shoes, he said this was a humiliation, because an elder like him should not have been treated like that.
This created a diplomatic rift between the two countries. A protest march in Port Moresby saw hundreds march on the Australian High Commission demanding an apology.
The man behind the skirt:
After a brief stint as a teacher, Somare became a radio broadcaster based in Wewak in the East Sepik Province. Following many conflicts with his superiors over his political remarks, he was transferred from broadcasting to administration.
He left radio to contest the elections for the second House of Assembly in 1968 as a Pangu Party member.
Somare and eight other Pangu Party members were elected, but declined to join the coalition government, making him the first opposition leader.
Following the third House of Assembly elections in 1972, Somare, formed a coalition government, where he became prime minister and internal finance minister.
Somare was a key figure in preparing his country for independence in 1975.
He has received several honourary doctorates, the first being from the University of the Philippines in 1976.
He was appointed a member of Her Majesty’s Imperial Privy Council in 1977 and was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) by the Queen in the Birthday Honour
List of 1990
In 2005 Princess Anne, The Princess Royal vested in him the title Grand Chief the Right Honourable Sir Michael Somare
His culture:
Somare’s pride in his culture, led him to being appointed as sana (peacemaker) in 1973.
In his autobiography Sana (1975), Somare describes his love for culture.
In 1971, he was concerned that the sacred spears (kakars) and flutes, were being destroyed or stolen. After a lot of negotiation with priests he arranged to have the kakars of his village photographed for easy identification.
The kakars were handled by senior priests and only brought out when they were being handed to another generation (orob). Somare was too young to be allowed to see the spears, but was included in the ceremony of handing them to the next generation as the interpreter for the photographer.
His personal life:
Somare married his wife Veronica in 1965, having courted her in traditional fashion. They have five children and eight grandchildren. Somare is head of both his family and that of his wife, who initiated him into their title mindamot two days after his initiation as sana.
Somare fact file
Born: April 9, 1936
Education
1946-1957: attended Boram Primary School and Sogeri High School, graduating with a Leaving Certificate
1962-1963: Teacher training at Sogeri High School
1965: Training in radiobroadcasting at the Administrative College at Waigani
Work experience: Taught at several primary and secondary schools
1963: Radio broadcaster Political life:
1957: Founded the PANGU Party
1975-1980; 1982-1985: Prime minister under PANGU party
1988-1992: Foreign minister
1995: Founded National Alliance Party after falling out with PANGU
1999: Foreign minister for a few months
July 2006: Foreign minister
2007-to date: Prime minister under National Alliance Party and foreign minister
Adapted from online sources