Aust G-G to pay tribute

By MALUM NALU
Australia’s Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove will attend today’s State funeral service of Sir Michael Ogio at St Mary’s Cathedral in Port Moresby, according to National Events Minister Justin Tkatchenko.
Tkatchenko said Sir Peter would be arriving in Port Moresby this morning in time for the funeral service of Sir Michael.
“This just goes to show you the wonderful relationship that Australia and PNG have at this level, and at many levels,” he said.
“For them, and especially the governor-general to fly in at very short notice to show respect to our governor-general of Papua New Guinea, is greatly appreciated.”
The funeral service will be led by Cardinal Sir John Ribat.
Sir Michael’s body will be flown home tomorrow to Bougainville for burial.
Tkatchenko said the programme was being funded and managed by the National Events Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill led dignitaries and senior government officials in viewing Sir Michael’s body at Government House yesterday. Tkatchenko said the organisers faced a difficult situation as the swearing-in of new Governor-General Bob Dadae in Parliament on Tuesday could not be changed.
“So we had to work around the protocols to ensure that each event was not foreshadowed by each other and full respect for each event was given prominence,” he said.
Tkatchenko thanked the Autonomous Bougainville Government for organising the Bougainville side of Sir Michael’s funeral programme.
He will be buried at his home village of Tinputz.