Sam Basil

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| honorific-suffix = MP

| name = Sam Basil

| image = File:Sam Basil 2018.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Basil in 2018

| office = Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

| term_start = 1 October 2020

| term_end = 11 May 2022

| primeminister = James Marape

| predecessor = Davis Steven

| successor = John Rosso{{cite web|url=https://emtv.com.pg/rosso-formally-sworn-in-as-deputy-pm/|title=Rosso Formally Sworn In as Deputy PM |work=EMTV Online|date=26 May 2022|access-date=28 May 2022}}

| office2 = Treasurer of Papua New Guinea

| term_start2 = 7 June 2019

| term_end2 = 27 August 2019

| primeminister2 = James Marape

| predecessor2 = Charles Abel

| successor2 = Ian Ling-Stuckey

| office3 = Minister for National Planning and Monitoring

| term_start3 = 13 May 2019

| term_end3 = 31 May 2019

| primeminister3 = Peter O'Neill

| office4 = Minister of Finance

| term_start4 = 17 April 2019

| term_end4 = 13 May 2019

| successor4 = Richard Maru

| predecessor4 = James Marape

| primeminister4 = Peter O'Neill

| office5 = Minister for Communications, Information Technology and Energy

| term_start5 = 2017

| term_end5 = 17 April 2019

| primeminister5 = Peter O'Neill

| office6 = Minister for National Planning

| term_start6 = 5 August 2011

| term_end6 = 2012

| primeminister6 = Michael Somare

| office7 = Member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea

| constituency7 = Bulolo Open

| term_start7 = 2007

| term_end7 = 11 May 2022

| predecessor7 = John Muingnepe

| party = United Labour Party (2019–2022)

| otherparty = Pangu Party (2014–2019)
Papua New Guinea Party (2011–2014)
People's Progress Party (2002–2011)

Melanesian Alliance Party (2019–2022)

| birth_name = Samuel H. Basil

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1969|11|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Papua and New Guinea, Australia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|5|11|1969|11|16|df=y}}

| death_place = Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

| nationality = Papua New Guinean

| alma_mater =

| years_active =

| children = Sam Basil Jr.

}}

Samuel H. Basil{{cite web|url=https://pnghausbung.com/basils-vision-for-health-services-at-ward-level-on-track/|title=Basil's vision for health services at ward level on track|work=PNG Haus Bung|date=13 April 2021|access-date=13 May 2022}} (16 November 1969{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} – 11 May 2022) was a Papua New Guinean politician. He was a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2007, representing the electorate of Bulolo Open, until his death in 2022. From 8 June 2019, to August 2019 Basil served as the Treasurer of Papua New Guinea.

On 1 October 2020, Basil was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea in a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister James Marape, while also maintaining his existing portfolio as Minister for National Planning.{{cite news |first= |last=|title=In brief: Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister announces major cabinet reshuffle and other business stories |url=https://www.businessadvantagepng.com/in-brief-papua-new-guineas-prime-minister-announces-major-cabinet-reshuffle-and-other-business-stories/ |work=Business Advantage PNG |publisher= |date=2020-10-05 |access-date=2022-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507044519/https://www.businessadvantagepng.com/in-brief-papua-new-guineas-prime-minister-announces-major-cabinet-reshuffle-and-other-business-stories/ |archive-date=2021-05-07 |url-status=live}} He served as deputy prime minister until his death in office in May 2022.

Early life

Basil was educated at Bumayong Lutheran Secondary School and was a businessman prior to entering politics, where he was managing director of seafood and aquaculture company BSJ Fishing and Trading.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/member-of-parliament/bio/view/bulolo-district|title=Hon. Sam Basil, MP|publisher=National Parliament of Papua New Guinea|accessdate=19 March 2017}}{{cite news | title=Fish farming set to take off in Morobe | work=PNG Post Courier | date=26 July 2005 }}{{cite news | title=Tuna shipment underway | work=PNG Post Courier | date=27 October 2005 }} He was also a board member of the Morobe Fisheries Management Authority.{{cite news | title=Moves to corporatise economic sector | work=PNG Post Courier | date=2 April 2004 }}

Early political career

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the People's Progress Party at the 2002 election.{{cite news | title=PPP names 78 for poll | work=PNG Post Courier | date=28 March 2002 }}

He was elected to the National Parliament in the 2007 election for the People's Progress Party, and immediately became its deputy leader, with the party in the opposition.{{cite news | title=NA eyes legal bid over rivals | work=PNG Post Courier | date=13 August 2007 }}{{cite news | title=Leaders urged to unite | work=PNG Post Courier | date=16 August 2007 }} Key issues in his first term were the improvement of district roads, managing issues associated with the Wafi and Hidden Valley mining projects, and occasional ethnic unrest.{{cite news | title=MP set to revive mining towns | work=PNG Post Courier | date=28 September 2007 }}{{cite news | title=Roads program launched | work=PNG Post Courier | date=10 August 2007 }}{{cite news | title=No harmony at gold mine | work=PNG Post Courier | date=5 November 2007 }}{{cite news | title=Sepik leaders apologise to Sam Basil | work=PNG Post Courier | date=19 July 2010 }} In 2009, Basil was involved in a deal which saw the people of Bulolo District assigned a half share of the provincial government's share of the Morobe Mining Joint Venture.{{cite news | title=New start for Bulolo | work=PNG Post Courier | date=14 October 2009 }}

In December 2009, he claimed the National Parliament building was unfit for occupation and should be condemned.{{cite news | title=Basil: Parlt is unfit | work=PNG Post Courier | date=11 December 2009 }} He was a member of the Public Accounts Committee when it reported, in the same month, that only five out of nearly 1000 government agencies had met accountability and transparency requirements, describing it as a "sign of a failed state" and threatening to resign from the committee if prosecutions were not initiated against those who had misused funds.{{cite news | title=Sad state of affairs in Govt agencies | work=PNG Post Courier | date=11 December 2009 }}{{cite news | title=Member calls for prosecution | work=PNG Post Courier | date=24 December 2009 }} In July 2010, Prime Minister Michael Somare told Basil during a parliamentary no-confidence vote "if you were outside I would kill you", which received wide media attention.{{cite news | title=Death threats in Papua New Guinea parliament | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Lateline) | date=21 July 2010 }}

Opposition Leader

On 10 January 2011, Basil resigned from the People's Progress Party and joined the Papua New Guinea Party (PNGP), then the largest opposition party.{{cite news | title=Four MPs join PNG Party | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=11 January 2011 }} On 11 May 2011, he became Deputy Opposition Leader under PNGP leader Belden Namah.{{cite news | title=Namah, Basil lead Opposition | work=PNG Post Courier | date=10 May 2011 }} He was a trenchant critic of Somare in the months prior to the no-confidence vote that ousted Somare in favour of Peter O'Neill in August 2011, repeatedly assailing the government regarding alleged corruption and the state of Somare's health.{{cite news | title=PNG opposition suspects corruption at very top | work=Radio New Zealand News International | date=6 July 2011 }}{{cite news | title=Two doctors must verify PM's state, says Basil | work=PNG Post Courier | date=1 July 2011 }} He was subsequently appointed Minister for National Planning in the new O'Neill government on 5 August 2011, and was also the responsible minister for new anti-corruption investigative body Task Force Sweep.{{cite news | title=Sweep to swoop on NAC | work=PNG Post Courier | date=27 February 2012 }}

In May 2012, a reported crowd of 10,000 came to witness his renomination for the 2012 election, at which he stated that he was defending his seat to finish incomplete projects in his ten months as minister.{{cite news | title=Basil recontests Bulolo seat | work=PNG Post Courier | date=28 May 2012 }} He was re-elected, standing for the Papua New Guinea Party, in July, receiving an absolute majority of the vote in a crowded field of candidates.{{cite news | title=Basil wins seat by majority | work=PNG Post Courier | date=17 July 2012 }} O'Neill dumped the PNGP from his governing coalition after the election, having fallen out with leader Namah, costing Basil his ministry.{{cite news | title=Deputy PM left out of PNG cabinet | work=The Australian | date=31 July 2012 }} Basil filed a court challenge to prevent from sitting while final election writs were returned, which delayed but did not prevent O'Neill from being sworn in for a full term.{{cite news | title=PNG parliamentary dramas continue | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Lateline) | date=3 August 2012 }}{{cite news | title=O'Neill re-elected PM by huge majority | work=The Australian | date=4 August 2012 }}

Basil was again named Deputy Opposition Leader in August 2012, while also serving as Shadow Minister for National Planning, District Development and Health and HIV/AIDS.{{cite news | title=Shadow ministers | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=22 August 2012 }} In the same month, he repeatedly criticised the O'Neill government over a reported travel ban preventing foreign journalists from visiting Manus Island, home to the Australian Manus Regional Processing Centre.{{cite news | title=Basil defends journos | work=PNG Post Courier | date=29 August 2012 }}{{cite news | title=Australia says it's not behind Manus media ban | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=30 August 2012 }} In October, he voiced strong opposition to deep sea mining in Papua New Guinea.{{cite news | title=We are against sea bed mining, says PNG Opposition | work=PACNEWS | date=29 October 2012 }} Basil organised a rural electrification program back in his own district, which was well-received.{{cite news | title=Basil brings electricity to rural area after 37 years | work=PNG Post Courier | date=30 April 2013 }} He remained in the opposition as its numbers declined to only six by May 2013, as various MPs defected to the government.{{cite news | title=PNG Opposition left with six | work=PACNEWS | date=23 May 2013 }}

Basil was heavily critical of the deal which allowed for the expansion of the Manus detention centre, and was involved in an opposition legal challenge claiming that it was unconstitutional.{{cite news | title=Basil: Asylum seeker deal improper and risky | work=PNG Post Courier | date=15 August 2013 }}{{cite news | title=PNG Opposition's challenge to asylum camp fast tracked by court | work=Radio New Zealand News International | date=16 August 2013 }} In September 2013, Basil was one of only two MPs to vote no on a bill which restricted no-confidence votes, requiring a month's notice and a minimum of 22 MPs.{{cite news | title=PNG laws hamper votes of no confidence | work=Australian Associated Press | date=20 September 2013 }} He repeatedly complained throughout much of his second term that he and other opposition MPs were having difficulty accessing their District Service Improvement Program funds, in contrast to government MPs, and was repeatedly praised in media coverage for improving local services in spite of the interference.{{cite news | title=DSIP for Opposition MPs unpaid | work=PNG Post Courier | date=16 December 2013 }}{{cite news | title=Basil opens bridge in Buang | work=PNG Post Courier | date=24 December 2013 }}{{cite news | title=Basil strives despite setback | work=PNG Post Courier | date=22 April 2014 }} In June 2014, Prime Minister O'Neill asked police to investigate Basil and sacked anti-corruption head Sam Koim, claiming that they had colluded to oppose him.{{cite news | title=Peter O'Neill asks police to investigate sacked anti-corruption boss Sam Koim | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=21 June 2014 }}

In August 2014, Basil resigned from the Papua New Guinea Party and joined the Pangu Party, immediately becoming party leader.{{cite news | title=Democracy threat | work=PNG Post Courier | date=15 August 2014 }}{{cite news | title=PNG MP movements hurting democracy, says Gelu | work=Radio New Zealand News International | date=15 August 2014 }}{{cite news | title=Proposed law to stem defections PNG | work=PACNEWS | date=18 August 2014 }} Pangu, the oldest party in Papua New Guinea and one-time governing party, had not been represented in parliament since the 2013 death of Ludwig Schulze, its sole member to be re-elected in 2012.{{cite news | title=Basil now new Pangu leader | work=PNG Post Courier | date=20 August 2014 }}{{cite news | title=Tasion applauds Basil for moving to Pangu | work=PNG Post Courier | date=21 August 2014 }} After some confusion about the loyalties of the revived party, he continued as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.{{cite news | title=Namah releases Basil | work=PNG Post Courier | date=19 August 2014 }}{{cite news | title=Bulolo MP commends Electoral Commission | work=PNG Post Courier | date=9 September 2014 }} He continued as deputy after Don Polye ousted Namah as Opposition Leader in December 2014.{{cite news | title=Polye PNG's new opposition leader | work=PNG Post Courier | date=3 December 2014 }} In August 2015, he was joined by a second Pangu MP when their endorsed candidate, William Samb, won a by-election in Goilala Open.{{cite news | title=Pangu Pati candidate wins Goilala | work=PNG Post Courier | date=12 August 2015 }} He continued to campaign around the interference with DSIP funds of opposition MPs, claiming that past governments had not discriminated against the opposition in the way that O'Neill had.{{cite news | title=Cuts in Districts, Provincial funds is a concern: Polye | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=23 December 2015 }} In April 2016, he saw the opposition's long-running court case regarding the Manus Island detention centre decided in their favour, with the Supreme Court ruling that it was unconstitutional.{{cite news | title=Namah happy with decision | work=PNG Post Courier | date=27 April 2016 }}

On 3 May 2016, Basil became Leader of the Opposition after the National Court upheld a challenge to Polye's 2012 election victory, set aside the result and ordered a belated recount of votes in his seat.{{cite news | title=Polye steps down as PNG opposition leader | work=Radio New Zealand News International | date=3 May 2016 }} However, he relinquished the leadership back to Polye on 26 May, two days after Polye won a stay of the earlier decision pending an appeal.{{cite news | title=Don Polye re-appointed PNG Opposition leader, Another MP join Opposition | work=PACNEWS | date=26 May 2016 }} He was comfortably re-elected at the 2017 election, at which he led a Pangu Party comeback, with the once-dormant party winning a number of seats.{{cite news | url=http://www.looppng.com/elections/10-members-parliament-declared-so-far-63017 | title=10 Members of Parliament declared so far | work=Loop PNG | date=17 July 2017 | accessdate=17 July 2017}}

On 7 May 2019, he left the Pangu Party to become the leader of the Melanesian Alliance Party.{{Cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/basil-leads-melanesian-alliance-party-back/|title=Basil leads Melanesian Alliance Party back|date=2019-05-07|website=Post Courier|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-30}} He then founded the United Labour Party.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-04 |title=Sam Basil forms new PNG political party |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/402437/sam-basil-forms-new-png-political-party |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}

As part of the First Marape Cabinet, Basil was appointed Treasurer on 7 June 2019.

Death

Basil was killed in a car accident on 11 May 2022, one day before election nominations.{{Cite news |date=2022-05-12 |title=PNG's general election delayed after Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil dies in a car crash |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-12/png-deputy-prime-minister-sam-basil-dies-road-accident/101059628 |access-date=2022-05-12}} He was replaced a minister by Henry Amuli.{{Cite web |last=Zarriga |first=Miriam |date=18 April 2022 |title=Outspoken Kramer stripped of justice portfolio just before PNG elections {{!}} Asia Pacific Report |url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2022/04/18/outspoken-kramer-stripped-of-justice-portfolio-just-before-png-elections/ |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=asiapacificreport |language=en-US}}