Late Agiru deserves to rest in peace

THE death of Hela Governor Anderson Pawa Agiru last Thursday last week has produced some speculation in the social media that the PNG LNG project may be at risk.
We are assured by the promise that the Hela people have given that Agiru’s death will not lead to the destruction of projects, programmes and policies that he stood for.
There have been cases in the past of violence and destruction in the wake of a leader’s passing.
We therefore admire the manner in which the Hela people have observed the passing of their great leader.
No person should use Agiru’s death as an excuse to promote his or her personal interest or retract from what Agiru stood for.
The late governor had little and he left little in material possessions.
Agiru was a power house in matters of national and provincial interests. He was a man ahead if his time and his legacy will live for generations to come.
The National newspaper had a cordial relationship with the late leader, who was a strong defender of journalism and the freedom of speech and expression in Papua New Guinea.
Nonetheless, Agiru was a private person so we should respect that and leave his private life be.
The late governor was a visionary leader who championed the cause for the environment long before it became a global issue.
He stood for and demanded national content in the country’s first liquefied natural gas project before the issue was fully understood.
He wanted and pushed for, and unfortunately never got ownership by Papua New Guineans in the pipeline, in shipping and in the marketing of PNG LNG. This was a big business loss which we will realise in the fullness of time.
So at this time as the late governor’s body lies at rest, no issue should further defer the burial of Anderson Pawa Agiru.
As Agiru worked tirelessly throughout his life, he deserves a rest so let us all respect that.
With the next general elections just 13 months away, there will be people who want to take advantage of Agiru’s passing.
There is currently a court case challenging the purported removal of Agiru by another Hela MP.
The late governor told us shortly before his death that peace must be allowed to prevail in the province, which has seen a sudden rise in crime and lawlessness in recent months.
No man, not even Agiru himself can go beyond the interest of the Hela people and province. We must respect his wishes.
The unity and brotherhood shown by MPs from Hela and Southern Highlands this week in assuring their people that they will continue to support projects started by the late governor is most honourable.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who is also the Ialibu-Pangia MP, must be highly commended for bringing together his colleague parliamentarians to respond to issues raised by the people of Hela following the death of Agiru.
We also commend Finance Minister and Tari-Pori MP James Marape, Works Minister and Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi, Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP Philip Undialu, Komo-Magarima MP Francis Potape, Mendi MP De Kewanu, Nipa Kutubu MP Jeffrey Komal and Kagua-Erave MP James Lagea for their united stand on this issue.
In their joint statement, the leaders said, “We collectively express our desire to see the projects and commitments of the late Governor to be continued and properly funded by the Government. Many of these projects are ongoing and the Government has already started implementing these for competition in Hela and Southern Highlands. We will ensure that these projects are completed as was envisaged by the late Governor. These are issues that he championed for more than 20 years in the interests of our people.”
In a separate statement, Finance Minister Marape assured the people of Hela and the country as well as corporate organisations and investors that the Government had already partnered Agiru on all the issues raised.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP Undialu, who urged the people of Hela and Southern Highlands to put aside their differences during this time of mourning for their late leader.
We in the journalism fraternity extend our condolences to the family, relatives, tribesmen and people of Hela for the loss of a great leader.