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FILE PHOTO: Papua New Guinea s first prime minister Michael Somare, who has died aged 84, in Melbourne, Australia in 2009. REUTERS/Mick Tsikas/File Photo
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Papua New Guineans gathered in their thousands to pay respect to their “grand chief” at a state funeral on Friday for Michael Somare, the former prime minister who led the Pacific archipelago to independence.
Somare died on Feb. 26, aged 84, just weeks after he was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer. He served as leader four times and was the country’s first prime minister after Papua New Guinea (PNG) gained independence from Australia in 1975.
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Papua New Guineans are mourning the loss of the man who was the central figure in the country s passage to independence.
Sir Michael Somare died early this morning in Port Moresby after being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and admitted to hospital a week ago.
Sir Michael Somare became Papua New Guinea s first prime minister in 1975.
Photo: Supplied
Described as the nation s anchor and a father figure to Papua New Guineans, Sir Michael s passing at the age of 84 signals the end of an era not just for PNG but also the Pacific Islands.
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.
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