Driver Toru grateful for kindness

By HELEN TARAWA
DICKSON Toru, the late Sir Mekere Morauta’s personal assistant and driver for the past three years, says he was picked from the street to work for him.
“It was a privilege to work for a senior statesman and I had the opportunity to meet prominent leaders of this country,” he said.
“I found him to be very intelligent and a unique kind of a person. He was a humble man, soft-spoken and easy-going.
“I worked odd hours with him.
“He was very kind. He never said anything harsh to me.”
Toru is from Uritai, the village of the late Sir Mekere’s mum Morikoai Elavo.
“I came from the street, from a hard way of life,” he said.
“When Sir Mekere decided to stand for election, I decided to work with him.
“Now that he is gone, I do not know what my future holds, whether I will find another job, whether I will be able to find a boss like him.
“He was down to earth and came down to my level.
“Most times when we were alone in the vehicle, travelling to and from his duties, we would communicate in our Toaripi language.
“I am going to miss him.”