Contrasting approaches to death

The National Weekender

By PETER KORUGL
In the Highlands, death is regarded in different ways.
The most noticeable being the criminal behaviour that one reads about in the newspapers daily – the sorcery-related tortures and killings.
This is because people blame death on something or someone – no one believes that God gives life and takes life.
Being born and dying are in God’s hands but from the far-flung remote village in Hela in the west to Eastern Highlands in the east, a death has a profound impact on the community.
From the hauskrai to the actual burial, mourning is very pronounced. It involves the entire village or community, from children, women to men, clad in mud, wailing and crying themselves hoarse. It is dangerous to behave differently.
So when chairman of PNG Ports Corporation Ltd, Sir Nathaniel Poya and fellow director Luke Niap, both Highlands gentlemen, went to the picturesque Alukuni Village in Rigo, Central on Saturday, Nov 24, with a team of senior managers and staff to witness the burial of fellow director the late Patrick KalaniAmini, they were shocked at what they saw.
“We are witnessing something unreal here, something you don’t normally see up there (Highlands),” Sir Nathaniel spoke in a low voice to Niap, as they were heading to the village cemetery.
Niap added, “Very true. It’s all too quiet. We are witnessing something different, perhaps another culture on display here.”
They were not the only people that saw what happened that day at Alukuni village. Others who were there commented on the orderly and peaceful burial ceremony that was held for the late Amini.
The burial service, the beautiful singing and orderly behaviour was a celebration of the life of their late leader and member of the community. It was a demonstration of their acceptance of his death.
“As humans, we are born and we die. Death is unavoidable. These events are natural and we all have to accept this,” Sir Nathaniel said.
“Many of us from the Highlands need to understand that we are born to die, if only we accept this, then we can avoid the unnecessary problems that flare up when death occurs in our communities.”
Sir Nathaniel and his team started their trip from Port Moresby at about 5am on Saturday morning. With him were managing director of PNG Ports, Stanley Alphonse, several senior managers and staff, who accompanied them on the three hours journey to one of the most beautiful coasts in Central.
The last leg of the road trip was an ordeal, dusty and bumpy but this was compensated by one of the most beautiful views in the world when we arrived at last at Hood Lagoon. Driving along the coast line for a few minutes and taking in the view, we arrived at the Hood Lagoon jetty overlooking Alukani village that lay peacefully on the other side.
A big banana boat, owned by the late Amini came in and the first lot of people including Sir Nathaniel and his board members got on. The boat took them over to the eastern side of the village, dropped them off and returned for the second drop off.
PNG Ports assisted to repatriate the body to his home on Friday, the day before, where it overnighted for the family and village to pay their last respects. Sir Nathaniel and team went into the home of late Amini and met the relatives, spoke to them and made a small presentation.
By the time the second PNG Ports party arrived, the body was brought out of his home and taken to the village cemetery.
Everyone, including the relatives followed to where the villagers had prepared the last resting place for this great man.
After short burial ceremony led by their local pastor, the body of this great Papua New Guinean was laid to rest.
Amini was born on June 20, 1952. He was married with four children,
all grown up with their own families.
He attended the Kapari-Viriolo Primary School in the Abau district, went to Scots College, Warwick in Queensland to do his matriculation studies and returned to PNG to enter the Papua New Guinea University of Technology to graduate with an engineering degree.
He started his career with the PNG Electricity Commission, the predecessor of PNG Power Limited, starting as a junior engineer and worked his way up to be chief executive from 1989 to May 1995.
He was appointed as the executive director of Pacific Power Association in July 1995 and held the post for three and half years before he was appointed as chief executive officer of PNG Water Board which was changed to Water PNG, a position he held for 13 years.
In January 2013, late Amini was appointed to serve as a director of PNG Ports Corporation Ltd, which he served until his passing on Nov 11, 2018.
“The experience and leadership late Amini brought to PNG Ports was immense. To all of us who worked with him, he was the guiding hand in the entire team. He was the last check in all the major decisions we made, the check and balance, if I may say so.
“As a senior director, he contributed immensely towards PNG Ports’ milestone achievements in the operational and financial aspects of our business.
“His role in the life of the PNG Ports board will forever remain exemplary,” deputy chairman of the board, Fabian Chow said of this gentleman and true Papua New Guinean in his tribute during his funeral service.

  • Peter Korugl is the corporate communications manager at PNG Ports LtCorporation Ltd.