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Sir James laid to rest
By SHEILA LASIBORI
THE country will remember Sir James Fraser
as its first legislator and one of the men who framed the Constitution.
His son Nick and grandson Tristan will certainly remember him as a
father and grandfather
Sir James Murdo Fraser, who hailed from Scotland, was finally laid to
rest last Saturday at Nine-Mile Cemetery following a funeral service at
Sioni Kami Memorial Church in Boroko.
The service was attended by late Sir James’ former colleagues that
included Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, National Executive Council
secretary Winnie Kiap, foreign dignitaries, the Tonga community,
relatives, friends and his family members.
In fact, the solemn affair was an atmosphere of reflection.
“What I want to do is celebrate his life. He was a sponge for
knowledge,” 28-year-old Nick, the only son of Sir James and Lady
Makeleta, said during the funeral service.
Nick recalled on the day his old man died how he asked him (Nick) to let
him go.
“He grabbed my wrist and said, ‘son let me go … do not leave me in the
freezer too long … for years, I hated the air conditioner’,” Nick said,
as he recalled the words of his father before he closed his eyes.
“Bubu James wanted everything in the world for me,” eight-year-old
grandson Tristan said as he thanked his grandfather.
Ms Kiap, who read the eulogy, said Sir James planned his death and the
events that would follow, including who would read the eulogy, how the
funeral service would go, and his final resting place which is on PNG
soil.
She said the late Sir James spent more than 20 years (1978 to 2002) as
PNG’s first legislative council and put together laws including making
amendments to the National Constitution.
Some of the laws were on employment, banking, elections, taxation,
security, civil and aviation, and those on provincial and local level
governments.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, in a condolence letter to the family
read out by radio personality Roger Hau’ofa, remembered Sir James for
his quality and diligence in drafting laws.
Autonomous Bougain-ville Government President Joseph Kabui, also in a
letter, thanked late Sir James for his part in helping to put together
the ABG Constitution back in 2005.
Health Minister Sir Peter Barter described him as a “mentor” and “role
model”.
A lawyer by profession, Sir James and Lady Makeleta first came to PNG in
1976 from Tonga, where he had sought employment experience in the
Pacific after finishing law at universities in the United Kingdom.
Sir James is survived by wife Lady Makeleta, son Nick and grandson
Tristan.
 
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