Tributes continue to pour in for Basil, ULP to field a Basil to defend Bulolo in GE22

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Tributes continue to pour in for Basil, ULP to field a Basil to defend Bulolo in GE22

PORT MORESBY: United Labour Party (ULP)’s Rigo MP Lekwas Gure is succeeding the late Bulolo MP and Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil as party leader.

And he has announced that one of Basil’s sons would contest and defend Bulolo for his father and party in General Election 2022 (GE22).

ULP’s deputy leasder is Markham MP Koni Iguan who announced that the party would be fielding 61 candidates in GE22.

Meanwhile tributes continue to pour in for Basil, with many describing him as an all-rounder.

Basil, 52, will lie in state this morning (May 17, 2022) – 15 years after he was first elected as Bulolo MP – before the state funeral at the Sir John Guise stadium indoor complex later this afternoon.

Game changer

May 17, 2022The NationalMain Stories

TRIBUTES continue to pour in for the Bulolo MP and Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil with many describing him as an all-rounder.
Basil, 52, will lie in state this morning in Parliament – 15 years after he became an MP – before the state funeral at the Sir John Guise stadium indoor complex later this afternoon.
Basil contested the Bulolo open seat in 2002, missed out narrowly but five years later made a grand entry into politics with a superior victory.
Among those who paid tribute to him was daughter of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Dulciana Somare-Brash.
Dulciana, a member of Basil’s United Labour Party, was part of his team who revived the Pangu Pati in 2014.
“For years, we agreed and fought on how we should revive an old party, leave one, build one and how our party machinery would be run,” she said.
“You, parliamentary wing and me – executive and party council.
“From 2016, Pangu gave us a reason and a season.
“And two years later, ULP revealed your true abilities and your political prowess in the face of uncertainty.
“Not many instigated changes of government in PNG in recent times and then survived the aftermath, you did.
“Always a pathfinder, a game changer.
“For you a clear pathway forward was always evident.
“I wrote policies, position papers, speeches, press releases, blogs, letters and cabinet submissions that you hated (or loved) or tore up and yet you always insisted I stay close in case you needed to use my ‘fancy words’.
“We worked hard.
“You tirelessly always.
“Your energy was contagious.
“But you did it mostly alone and always with clarity.”
Prime Minister James Marape acknowledged Basil’s effort, saying: “The ruling Pangu Pati I now lead is due to the hard work of Basil in 2014.
“He single-handedly resurrected the Pangu Pati.
“The one-man party became two in 2015 when the late Goilala MP William Samb joined Basil.”
New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan describes Basil as a “great politician and a great friend”.
He said the deputy prime minister was a young man, only 52, and had more years of service to offer the people of Bulolo and the country. “I cannot believe he is gone,” Sir Julius said in a statement yesterday.
“Words cannot express the sadness we feel at this moment.
“I remember Sam’s entry into national politics when he ran for the Bulolo open seat in 2002.
“In that election, he ran as a People’s Progress Party (PPP) candidate, and though he performed well, he narrowly lost the election.
“However, Sam spent the next five years working for, meeting with and coming to understand the needs and concerns of his people.
“In 2007, he ran again as a PPP candidate, and in that election the people returned him with a resounding victory.
“He was only 38 at the time, but he was wise beyond his years,” Sir Julius said.
“He served with distinction as my deputy leader in Parliament, and though in later years he left the PPP, he nevertheless remained a good friend.
“And the people loved Sam as much as he loved his people.
“In the most recent election, 2017, Sam received more than 10 times as many votes as the second-placed candidate.
“That is the level of confidence his people had in him.
“We have all lost a pillar of strength who can never be replaced.”

Respected Leaders … Then-Opposition deputy leader the late Sam Basil (right) in East Sepik with gifts for the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s 80th birthday in Wewak in March, 2016. Basil publicly apologised for what had transpired during the political impasse in August 2011. Basil’s leadership was proven when he revived the Pangu Pati in 2016, with Sir Michael’s blessing. – Nationalfilepic

Disbelief still grips Basil’s family of his passing

May 17, 2022The NationalNational

By REBECCA KUKU
DISBELIEF still grips the Basil household over the loss of their father, husband and son who died in a motor vehicle accident along the Bulolo Highway in Morobe last week.
The late Sam Basil’s eldest daughter Mary-Frances Basil told The National yesterday that they were naturally saddened deeply by the loss of their father – a loving dad.
“Our father as a politician, was dedicated, committed and a servant leader, who had his people’s best interest at heart,” Mary-Frances said,
“So he spent most of his time, serving his people, and at home, our father was a loving, caring, yet tough father who taught us many values in life.
“But the first and foremost was to be selfless, humble and respectful to everyone regardless of who they are. Dad was the glue that held all of us together.” Mary-Frances said they could not come to terms with the loss of their father.
The casket of Basil will be received by the Speaker of Parliament Job Pomat, Clerk of Parliament Kala Aufa and fellow members of Parliament today at 11am and will lay in State at the National Parliament Grand Hall for fellow members of Parliament to pay their last respects.
A state funeral will also be held this afternoon at 2pm at the Sir John Guise Indoor Stadium from 2pm to 5pm.

Gure, Iguan to lead Basil’s party

May 17, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By REBECCA KUKU
RIGO MP Lekwa Gure is the new United Labour (ULP) Party leader and Markham MP Koni Iguan is the deputy.
The party made the announcement in Port Moresby yesterday following the death of Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil in a car crash in Morobe last week.
Iguan, who is also the Deputy Speaker, endorsed 61 candidates to contest this year’s election.
He also announced that one of late Basil’s son would contest the Bulolo open seat under the ULP Party banner.
Iguan said the passing of Basil was a great loss to the party, he was supposed to lead ULP into its first election as a party.
“Basil was a strong, passionate, iconic man.
“His strength was shown in the way he revived the Pangu Pati, but due to some issues, he left and formed the ULP and this year was the first time his party would contest in the election.
“I must admit, many of us are here today because of him, so it is for him that we will carry the orange flame into the general election,” Iguan said.
“We are still in discussion, but the Basil family, the people of Buang and Bulolo, including the party, have all agreed.
“Basil has a lot of sons, so a decision will be made and we will officially announce the name after the burial.”

61 candidates to contest in honour of leader

May 17, 2022The NationalNational

THE United Labour Party’s 61 candidates will go ahead to contest in the general election in honour of their party leader and the late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil.
Party election coordinator Reuben Giusu said Basil’s death had left them in shock, but they would still go into the election with their orange pride.
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet, we still think he’s going to walk in or call at any minute.
“Sam was larger than life, he was passionate about many things, but most of all he was passionate about rural development,” Giusu said.
“He built this party and this is the first time we were supposed to contest and it’s just so hard to accept that he left us on the eve of the election.
“His party, his staff, everyone are just lost, nevertheless the party has agreed to go into this year’s election in honour of him, to carry on fighting for his dream and the things he was passionate about.”
Party leader Lekwa Gure said that Basil always spoke about the party, saying that the party would be an inspiration to many and an institute.
“But it wasn’t until his death last Wednesday that we realised he was the inspiration, he was the institute,” Gure said.
He said that the death left them with many unanswered questions.
“We keep asking, why so soon?
“Why him, why now on the eve of the general elections, but we have agreed as a party that we will keep the orange flame burning in his honour.
“To his family and his people of Morobe, we send our sincere condolences.”

Leaders: Basil fair-minded

May 17, 2022The NationalMain Stories

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama says Sam Basil was a man committed to the betterment of others.
“He believed that service delivery must be equally distributed to the people and he strove to ensure the Government mechanisms of service delivery catered effectively for the needs of every Papua New Guinean,” Toroama said.
“He will be fondly remembered on Bougainville for his collaboration with our three National MPs in North, Central and South Bougainville on important infrastructure development programmes on Bougainville.”
ABG vice-president Patrick Nisira said: “His loyalty to the Marape-Basil coalition Government and his commitment to the people were the driving force in his efforts to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of the people.”
PNG University of Technology (UoT) in Lae staged a walk of sorrow to pay tribute at the university’s Taraka campus in Lae on Saturday.
UoT students’ representative senate president Denzel Komun said Basil’s leadership was felt throughout the country.
“This is to show what kind of person he was,” he said.
“He (Basil) was man of people, change and honour. He was known throughout the country as a change maker.”
National Advancement Party leader Robert Nilkare described Basil as a hardworking leader.
He said the gap Basil left behind would be hard to fill.
PNGCCI president Ian Tarutia said: “Together with our Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry affiliate, we join the rest of Papua New Guinea in mourning the death of a strong modern leader taken away at the prime of his life.”

 Basil loved by many, says deputy speaker

May 17, 2022The NationalNational

THE late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil was loved by many all over the country and was an iconic leader, says Deputy Speaker of Parliament Koni Iguan.
Iguan, who is also the member for Markham, said that Basil’s death was a great loss to the country and Morobe, as many had faith in him that he would form the new government.
“He was the hope and strength for many of us, the strength of Basil’s leadership was proven when he revived Pangu,” Iguan said.
“The father of Pangua Pati, the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, symbolically handed Basil the leadership baton when he presented him with the Pangu flag during the last term of Parliament and wished him well in rebuilding the well-respected party to what it is today.
“But due to some issues, Basil broke away from Pangu and started his own party, the United Labour Party (ULP).
“This was supposed to be the first time that the ULP would contest in the general election, but he left us on the eve of election and we still cannot accept that he is gone, he was a unique leader who inspired many.”
ULP treasurer and party election coordinator Reuben Giusu said he agreed with Iguan, saying that Basil revived the Pangu Pati and built it to what it was today.
“I was with him since 2015 and the late Member for Goilala William Samb during those early days when he was trying to revive the Pangu Pati shortly after the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare gave him the Pangu flag.
“He garnered grassroots support from all over the country, he was a firebrand leader who inspired many to stand with him to fight for his dream for a better Papua New Guinea, but what he was most passionate about was rural development.”
“As a result, Pangu Pati did well, especially in Morobe, winning nine seats in the 2017 national election.”
Giusu said that the passing of great leaders like Basil and Samb was a big loss to the country and passed his condolences to their families and their people.

Basil was farmers’ friend, true supporter of agriculture business: President

May 17, 2022The NationalNational

THE late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil was a true supporter of farmers and agriculture business in the country, Farmers and Settlers Association president Wilson Thompson says.
Thompson said Basil once described the Department of Agriculture (DAL) and Livestock breeding and research stations as the seed and food bank of PNG.
He worked with DAL, Farmers and Settlers Association and PNG Apiculture Industry Association and Beekeepers Association to promote agriculture in Bulolo, Morobe, and PNG.
The farmers of PNG, including various associations, acknowledged Basil’s contribution as Bulolo MP and later in his contribution as minister in various portfolios.
“Many do not know that he was able to shift goats, sheep and cows, bee and citrus and lemon and coffee seeds from DAL Research Stations in Eastern Highlands to Bulolo,” Thompson said.
“We can see results such as Bulolo Honey and Coffee that are packaged and sold around PNG.”
He said Basil, through the Bulolo development authority, funded the PNG Coffee Forum in Goroka and also encouraged dialogue with Lae and Bulolo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including coffee cooperatives in Bulolo.
He pushed for the Bulolo Forestry College (BFC) to reopen and wanted to create a pathway between the Buang Agriculture Secondary School and University of Technology forestry and agriculture programmes to be taught at BFC.
He pushed for freight and shipping subsidies for fresh food farmers. “As member of the National Research Institute Council, Basil pushed for research into food security, food prices and agriculture and rural industries.
He travelled over Morobe and the Highlands promoting agriculture.
“He loved bees, citrus and goats that you see at his Buang and Mumeng homes,” Thompson said.

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