Somare, Pacific Man of the Year,

speaks out in New York

Prime Minister Michael Thomas Somare of Papua New Guinea became the first “South Pacific Man of the Year” (PIM, Oct. p 5) at an October ceremony honoring his achievements. The ceremony was in New York’s famous Met ropolitian Museum of Art.

“This is an historic occasion,” said Lelei Lelaulu, director of the Pacific Islands Association, at the opening ceremonies. “It marks the first time an American institution has focused on the Island nations of the North and South Pacific to honor one of the Island leaders in this kind of way.

“We believe it signals a new consciousness of the importance of the Oceanic nations in a world which every day grows smaller.”

Elizabeth B. Silverstein, presi dent of The Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific (FSP), and initiator of the award proudly presented a beautiful en graved gold plaque to the prime minister.

“Prime Minister Michael Thomas Somare was chosen for the 1983 Award in recognition of his remarkable success in build ing a nation peacefully from more than 800 disparate lan guage groups, and for his un swerving dedication to the strengthening of the neighboring nations of the South Pacific reg ion,” said Mrs Silverstein.

Mr Somare, who, accom panied by his Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Rab bie Namaliu, and other dig nitaries, had flown to New York to be named “South Pacific Man of the Year,” and to address the United Nations General Assem bly, was overcome with emotion as he accepted the award in the appropriate setting of the Michael C. Rockefeller wing of the museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Oceanic art.

But his sense of humor pre vailed when he admitted “to

NICKY HOLFORD reports to RIM from New York on the ceremony at which Papua New Guinea Prime Minister MICHAEL SOMARE was awarded the Pacific Man of the Year Award, and on his remarks during his acceptance

speech.

some small inner misgivings” on first hearing of his nomination for the award, and later that the presentation was to take place in the Rockefeller wing amongst the famous PNG collection.

“I wondered if the curator had designs on me,” he joked. Then he added; “There are, back in Papua New Guinea, certain gent lemen who are called the opposition to my government who would be only too happy to see me permanently locked away in a glass case in the Metropolit can Museum.”

“If the award is meant to be an acknowledgment of any achieve ment of mine,” said Mr Somare, “my greatest pride in receiving it is the recognition it gives to the energy and determination with which the people of Papua New Guinea have responded to the challenge of independence.”

More than 100 distinguished guests representing all Island na tions and many institutions of the United States Government and the U.S. business and banking community attended the cere mony, which will now become a yearly event. State Department officials included Robert Brand, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Af fairs, and Richard Dols, director of the Pacific Islands Affairs Office of the U.S. Department of State.

Also present was Mary Rock efeller Morgan, twin sister of the late Michael C. Rockefeller, who collected many of the museum’s traditional artefacts when he was in PNG.

“I was very happy to be in

vited,” Mrs Morgan said. “This is the sort of thing the museum should be used for.”

The prime minister was also presented with a cheque by FSP for a project of his choice.

Mr Somare said the money will help to preserve his coun try’s traditional cultures. “For some time I have been consider ing ways of strengthening and perpetuating the cultures of the Sepik River area. This cheque will give me an opportunity to establish a museum in the Sepik dedicated to just such a task.”

Following the presentation Prime Minister Somare gave the Elizabeth B. Silverstein Address and spoke out about his country’s commitment to make political independence an “economic reality.”

“We welcome help when it is sincere,” he said. “But, member ship of the modem world brings its own problems.

“When Americans hold their breath, Papua New Guinean hearts beat faster. Without any choice in the matter we, and all other Pacific Island nations, are part of the great strategic game,” he said.

Quoting a statement of Elizabeth Silverstein, the prime minister continued: “The Pacific basin has become a new focal point of world attention. Its vast maritime resources in food and its potential in seabed mining are being eyed with much specula tion by the powerful nations that crowd its rim.”

Mr Somare stressed that he believes America must set the tone in the Pacific.

“The United States, with its massive military might, can do virtually anything it pleases.

“It is America’s commitment to right that concerns me.

“Since its foundations the great republic has shown a com mitment to democracy, freedom and the rights of others unparal leled in history.”

The prime minister continued: “Too often the United States has abandoned her role of moral leadership and merely flexed its military muscles.

“We recognise that America cannot ignore its strategic inter ests in the Pacific. But at the same time we, who suffered grievously in the Second World War, do not want to once again become a battlefield.

“Nor do we wish to continue our present odious role of being a nuclear testing field.”

Mr Somare praised FSP not only for helping the peoples of the South Pacific to keep up with the changing world, but for also holding on to the cultural herit age which distinguishes all Pacif ic Island nations.

FSP has put special emphasis on establishing “self-help” prog rams and projects at the grass roots level. Established in 1965, FSP is now recognised as the

largest non-profit organisation

working in the Pacific to set up programs that help promote edu cational, medical and light in dustrial projects, and to assist the inhabitants of the region to fulfill the potential of the areas in which they live.

“True self-sufficiency lies in a nation’s people, not in its nation al accounts,” said Mr Somare.

“The foundation’s bottom line deals with people not digits: with motivation, aptitude, initiative with providing the encourage ment for small people to survive and thrive with dignity, inde pendence, and no loss of identity in a changing and competitive world.”