Colourful Sir Sinake laid to rest

By ZACHERY PER
THE body of the late Sir Sinake Giregire received a hero’s welcome in Eastern Highlands last week.
Sir Sinake died aged 75 in Port Moresby on Jan 4.
He achieved all his dreams and aspirations in life, many of those who spoke at his funeral gathering said.
Top political, public and private figures in Eastern Highlands took time off to pay their last respects to the late Sir Sinake.
It all started off at Goroka airport when the body of the former politician arrived on an Air Niugini flight with a combined police and Correctional Services guard of honour last Tuesday.
A huge crowd of people turned out to receive the casket, before it was taken to Kafuku village, outside Goroka town.
The funeral organising committee headed by Daulo spokesman Raisis Gorondawe took the late Sir Sinake’s casket on a motorcade around Goroka town before taking it on an aerial tour of the eight districts of the province.
A provincial funeral programme to honour his services to the people of the province and Papua New Guinea was held at the National Park in Goroka.
He was then taken to the Glenowen Funeral Home where his casket was kept before being driven in a convoy of vehicles to Asaro station in Daulo.
After a colourful funeral programme at Asaro, the body of the late Sir Sinake was handed over to his immediate family and relatives by Daulo MP Kondo Patrick.
Patrick thanked the office of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s for recognising the immense contributions of the late Sir Sinake and for helping the family take care of the cost of transporting the casket from Port Moresby until it reached Goroka.
Patrick described the late Sir Sinake as a true nation builder from the colonial days to the modern era, contributing in social, economic and political history of this young nation.
“He was a truly wise man who brought coffee to the fertile Asaro valley and built the first coffee plantation and became the first local millionaire.
“He achieved a lot, especially representing the people of Daulo, Goroka and Unggai-Bena in the House of Assembly,” he said.
Patrick said the man they dubbed a “father” deserved a colourful funeral and they did exactly what he deserved.
Deputy chief of staff from the Prime Minister’s Office Gideon Oli passed on O’Neill’s condolences to Sir Sinake’s family and the people of Daulo.
Many spoke highly of the contributions and achievements of the late Sir Sinake.
Patrick and Daulo district administrator James Sipa presented K10,000, two live pigs and garden food on behalf of the district administration towards the family of the late Sir Sinake and allocated a piece of land near the district office for him to be laid to rest.