Late Sir Mekere Morauta's Body to return to PNG, Govt approves 5 days mourning period
The body of the former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister and Moresby North West MP the late Sir Mekere Morauta will return home to Papua New Guinea to a State funeral.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the State Funeral Justin Tkatchenko announced this in a statement on Thursday.
Mr Tkatchenko says details of the arrival of the late Sir Mekere's body will be released soon followed by protocols of the State funeral.
He thanked the wife of the late Sir Mekere, Lady Roslyn and son James as well as the family for allowing Papua New Guinea to grieve, reflect, thank and honour him as the 7th Prime Minister.
A small but solemn funeral service was held at the Saint Mary's Anglican Church at Kangaroo Point on Wednesday, attended by close family and friends and several prominent Papua New Guineans including Sir John Kaputin, and the Chairman of the Motu Koita Assembly, Dadi Toka Jnr, and family representatives of other prominent Papua New Guineans who couldn't make it.
Australian economist Professor Ross Garnaut in a fitting eulogy described Sir Mekere as a great wise man and a man of strong will.
Tributes were read out as well from many who knew and worked with the late Sir Mekere, among them senior statesman Sir Rabbie Namaliu.
PNG's Consul General in Brisbane Jimmy Ovia says COVID-19 restrictions prevented many leaders in PNG from attending the funeral service.
He described the late Sir Mekere as a light, beacon of hope and a role model for others in the public service, in business and in politics.
Many Papua New Guineans have been calling for the body of the late Sir Mekere to be brought home and be given a State funeral.
Meanwhile, the Marape-Basil government has approved five day mourning period. The Prime Minister James Marape has released the following statement.
'This is a public notice to inform all PNGeans that NEC has approved a 5 day mourning period for our Statesman Sir Mekere and we are working on those details to be released soon after the family (led by Lady Roslyn Morauta ) agrees with us on the protocols and programs.
In the meantime our flag will still be flying low, our moments as a nation must be solemn in respect to final moments of the Statesman with us.
Ministers J Thachenko and S Eoi have been tasked to coordinate the State Funeral proceedings with my assistance.
We will keep your all posted as we go along. Because he passed on away in Brisbane under his family’s watch , what happened in Brisbane was a family occasion but State will pick up from there for a national bereavement, memorial and burial program.
Sir Mek the nation owes you this respect and to the family, whilst he is yours, he is more so a National Icon hence he will be accorded that highest respect in funeral by the State on behalf of his country.
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