CASKET OF LATE SIR JULIUS ARRIVES IN PORT MORESBY

The casket of the Late Sir Julius Chan, the Governor for New Ireland Province, arrived in the nation’s capital Port Moresby city at around 4:45pm this afternoon from the provincial capital, Kavieng.

He was accorded a guard of honour by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) followed by a customary reception conducted by the New Ireland community in Port Moresby before the body was handed over to the State for formalities of a State Funeral to commence.

The customary ceremony was led by a Maimai or a Chief from the New Ireland community in the city, where he acknowledged the Government of Papua New Guinea and reflected on the work of the man who he described as a Kwila Tree, a strong pillar from which his family grew and of course, the service to Papua New Guinea (PNG) that he gave until his last breath.

Following the ceremony, the casket containing the body of the Late Sir Julius was then handed over to the State where Prime Minister Marape graciously received.

“On behalf of the country, I thank you the family, the people of New Ireland province, and Namatanai for allowing a leader of the country to come back to the nation’s capital,” said the PM.

“Sir Julius, welcome home to your nation’s capital. We look forward to send you off well.”

There to receive the body along with Prime Minister Marape was the Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa, the Speaker of Parlaiment Job Pomat, the National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop, the Chief Secretary to the Government Ivan Pomaleu and Members of Parliament for New Ireland province along with the family of the Late Sir Julius Chan.

The body was then taken to the Funeral Home at Erima where he will stay awaiting a formal funeral program to be put together in the coming days.

Earlier, Prime Minister Marape and the Speaker of Parliament Job Pomat in a press conference held at the parliament house, made it clear that there is no official funeral program yet until the family of the Late Sir Julius and the State representatives sit down to discuss on how it should go about.

While this in progress, the PM already declared a week of mourning and ordered for all PNG flags to be flown at half-mast throughout the country as a mark of respect for the Late Sir Julius.