An 8 day State Funeral Program has been organized for Papua New Guinea’s seventh Prime Minister and Port Moresby Northwest MP the late Sir Mekere Morauta.
This was announced by the State Funeral organizing Committee Chairman and member for Moresby South Justin Tkatchenko who said Day One will officially begin when Late Sir Mekere’s casket lands at the Port Moresby Jacksons Airport.
“Day One will be today when the casket and family of the late Sir Mekere arrive at 1:30pm at the VIP carpark at the Jacksons airport.”
“He will be received by his family, the Prime Minister, NCD Governor, the Foreign Affairs Minister and all the members of Parliament.”
After this the Late Sir Mekere’s body will be dropped off at the Funeral Home and his family will go into quarantine for the next 7 days.
“Lady Roslyn Morauta, wife of late Sir Mekere, has made it clearly that all Covid19 protocols should be followed therefore her family will be undergoing home quarantine for the next 7 days.”
“Day 5 which is next week Monday the 4th of January, 2021, the Late Sir Mek will be laid in state at the Grand Hall in Parliament for public viewing.”
Tkatchenko added, “This is the perfect opportunity for the public to come and pay their respects and mourn their leader and since it’s from 10am-4pm everybody should have time to farewell their leader.”
“Even his family requests the public to come pay their respects at the Parliament house.”
On Day 8, the country will witness the late Sir Meks State Funeral at the Sione Kami Memorial Church at East Boroko which will be on Friday the 8th of January, 2021.
“The reason why we have such a drawn out State Funeral is because of the Covid19 quarantine requirements for the Morauta family.”
“His family will be out of quarantine by Thursday the 7th of January, 2021 hence we’re having the funeral service on Friday, followed by his burial at Independence Hill.”
The Late Sir Mekere Morauta will be laid to rest on the 8th of January, 2021 at the Independence Hill alongside former Prime Minister the Late Sir William Skate.