Oro people need words of comfort

TEARS flowed freely as I read the heart-breaking story of a young mother and wife who lost her baby and husband in the Oro flood disaster (Nov 21).
The next page showed a young father carrying his infant child to safety, which brought more tears to my eyes.
I then turned to read related stories and to my utmost disgust, I read one of the most insensitive comments by any leader in his right mind during such a situation.
The comments made by Oro Governor Suckling Tamanabae were most insensitive and inconsiderate, uncompassionate and irrelevant.
Instead of offering words of comfort, hope and encouragement, he had the gall to say the disaster was a “blessing in disguise” and “be seen as a cleansing of the old and the emerging of the new Oro”.
How can he say that when there is so much suffering – so many lives and properties lost, people are desperately trying to access food, shelter and water for survival and many more are in shock and mentally disoriented right now?
Please governor, your people need words of comfort, hope and wisdom right now to at least help ease their sufferings and pains, rather than some hollow rhetoric that should be kept to yourself.

MK
Port Moresby