President Ishmael Toroama joined the Bougainville community in Port Moresby to attend the National Haus Krai for the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare yesterday.

Bougainvilleans from North, Central and South took part in the solemn ceremony with mourning rites from the three regions presented at the haus krai.

President Toroama also presented traditional gifts from Bougainville that are symbolic in times of mourning to East Sepik Governor Allan Bird and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Member for Aitape Lumi Patrick Pruaitch.

President Toroama extended the sincerest condolences of the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the people of Bougainville to Sir Michael’s family and the people of the East Sepik Province. President Toroama described Sir Michael as a pious man who upheld the values of devotion to God, Country and Family.

“His lasting legacy was his ability to lead a nation of a thousand tribes and unify them under a common goal and that was freedom. The freedom to express ourselves, the freedom to be masters of our own destiny and the freedom to be diversified yet unified as one nation under God,” President Toroama said.

President Toroama also paid tribute to Sir Michael’s long association with Bougainville especially his contributions to the Bougainville Peace Process.

In 2002 when Sir Michael became the Prime Minister of PNG he continued the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement that was signed in 2001.

The Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was still Prime Minister when his government oversaw the formation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government in on June 1, 2005 when the Late Joseph Kabui was elected the first President of Bougainville.

Prime Minister James Marape was also present at the at Haus Krai as the Chief Mourner along with members of his cabinet. President Toroama was accompanied by ABG Minister for Public Service Melvin Iziras Wilolopa and Health Minister Raymond Masono.

The four National MP’s for Bougainville were also present including newly elected Regional Member Peter Tsiamalili Jnr.

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