Late Central Bougainville MP Sam Akoitai’s body this morning lie-in-state at the National Parliament House as fellow MPs paid their last respect.
Acting Parliament Speaker Koni Iguan received the pall-bearers and the casket of late Akoitai into the Grand Hall of the National Parliament before it was viewed by fellow colleague MPs including Prime Minister James Marape along with the Regional Member for Bougainville Peter Tsiamalili Junior.
The casket has left Parliament for the funeral service to be held at the Sioni Kami Memorial Church from midday to 2pm.
The casket and body of late Akoitai will leave for Buka tomorrow morning where the Acting Speaker of Parliament Koni Iguan will officially hand over the casket to the President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Ishmael Toroama at the House of Representatives. Late Akoitai, 60 years of age died on December 17, 2021 after he collapsed at his home in Wakunai.
He was first elected into Parliament in 1997 and held the ministerial portfolio for Bougainville Affairs under then Prime Minister Sir William Skate government and later as Minister for Mining, Environment, Conservation and Correctional Institution Services by then Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.
Photo credits: Parliamentary Media Services