http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080611/wehome.htmTributes flow...

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080611/wehome.htm

Tributes flow in for Kabui

IT seems like only yesterday when Joseph Kabui made history by being elected as the first President of Papua New Guinea’s first Autonomous Region, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said yesterday.
Today we are shocked to learn of his death, Sir Michael said. “As recent as Friday when he was in Manus, New Ireland, Alotau and Port Moresby representing the people of Autonomous Region in contributing towards the development of our national agenda.
“He was to return to Manus to engage with the Government of PNG in the next round of consultation on the Bougainville Autonomous arrangement. But that was not meant to be.’’ Sir Michael said “Bougainville directly stretches the bounds of our political experiments. Just before Independence, Bougainville wrote the system of provincial government into our Constitution. And not so long ago, it expanded the scope of our Constitution to embrace the concept of Autonomous Region’’.
He said Mr Kabui had taken charge of the system of provincial government in Bougainville well before the crisis and maintained the legacy of successes inherited from his predecessors.
He helped bring the Autonomous Region into existence and he was mandated by the people of Bougainville to make it work.
“We expected much from him and his team to make the Bougainville autonomy work. But that remains the chapter of our political and constitutional history that he leaves behind for others to complete,’’ Sir Michael said.
“On behalf of the people and Government of Papua New Guinea, I offer my sincere condolences to his widow, children, family and the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville for the unexpected death of her husband, their father, their son, their President and one of our leaders.
“We will remember him.’’