Body of boy back home

THE body of the nine-year-old boy from Papua New Guinea who drowned in the Lungga River in east Honiara returned home on Monday.
The boy, who arrived in Honiara a week ago for a family wedding, died before the wedding on Sunday.
The wedding was between Rayner Paul from Papua New Guinea and Laisa Elisha from Western  province (Honiara) who is a teacher at Betikama Adventist College.
The boy came with his family the previous Friday but drowned the next day.
His body was discovered two days later near the Lunga bridge.
All of last week, the body was left in the morgue at the National Referral Hospital awaiting the return of the entire family after the wedding.
On Sunday prior to the wedding, a brief ceremony to pay tribute to the boy was held to remember him before the actual wedding began.
A relative said the boy was suppose to take part in the ceremony.
However, at the reception, an empty seat, with plate, cup and spoon was allocated in remembrance of him.
Despite the tragedy, the wedding ceremony went ahead in high spirits.
Papua New Guinea High Commissioner Aiwa Olmi was the guest of honour.
Other PPF officers also attended the ceremony.
The family members who attended the wedding returned to Port Moresby with the coffin. – Solomon Star