Papua New Guinea - Personal background

Sir Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea's perennial leader, was born on 9 April 1936, in the town of Rabual, East New Britain province, the son of a police officer. He was educated at Sogeri Education Centre and Port Moresby's Administration Staff College. He worked as a teacher, and then as a radio journalist, before entering politics in 1968. Somare has received honorary degrees from universities in PNG, Fiji, The Philippines, and Australia, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. The library at University of Papua New Guinea is named after him. He is married, with five children.