GG forced to receive by-election writ during blackout

GOVERNOR-GENERAL Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae was forced to receive the Moresby Northwest by-election writ at Government House during an electricity blackout.
Sir Bob’s acting secretary Bill Toraso said on Friday that they wanted to defer the return of the writ to next week when electricity would be restored. “Sir Bob had to receive the writ during the blackout because the by-election was delayed so many times,” he said.
“Our aging standby generator also broke down as it is more than 40 years old.
“We need the Government to provide funds to install a new generator. We need constant electricity to conduct official ceremonies and work.”
Toraso said renovation was in progress on the Governor-General’s office and staff houses for which K21 million had been allocated in this year’s Budget.
Toraso also said that under the Governor-General legacy programme, the graves of all governor-generals would be rebuilt.
“Sir Bob and I went to Gulf on an official programme and visited former governor-general the late Sir Tore Lokoloko’s grave in Iokea village and late Sir Serei Eri’s grave in Moveave village and “we could not believe the sight of the graves”.
“The graves were totally neglected and in a swamp,” he said.
“When it floods, the graves are covered in water. We have done the first governor-general’s (Sir John Guise) grave in his late wife’s village in Abau’s Lalauara in Central and it is 70 per cent completed.”