Morobe farewells inspirational Luke

Member-elect for Bulolo District Sam Basil Jnr has described the owner of Mapai Transport Jacob Sole Luke as a humble and down to earth person who was passionate about the transportation industry.
“Morobe province, the Highlands region and the country has truly lost a great man of our time,” he said.
“His handiwork, Mapai Transport, is a testimony to every young Papua New Guinean that life is all about commitment and dedication in what you’re passionate about,” Basil Jnr said.
He said Luke had committed most of his life to the transportation industry in Morobe and PNG, especially along the Lae-Madang and Highlands highways.
Basil Jr said Luke and Mapai had joined the people of Morobe and PNG to mourn the death of his father and former Deputy Prime Minister and Bulolo MP Sam Basil who died tragically from a vehicle accident along the Bulolo Highway.
“Jacob was a man of great character which I can testify to,” he said.
Morobe deputy provincial administrator-social services Robin Bazinuc said Morobe and the country had lost a great leader in business.
Bazinuc said Luke was a great and humble man who made Lae and Morobe his second home and most notable was the establishment of his transport company in Morobe.
“Luke’s contribution to this province cannot go unrecognised. His establishment had given employment opportunities to Papua New Guineans and Morobeans, brought in internal revenues in tax to the government and internal revenue to the province.
“Luke’s social obligations to the community was recorded or unrecorded, only God was his witness. This great man’s passing was not only a loss to his family, company, business partners but also a loss to PNG and Morobe,” Bazinuc said.
Vice chairman of Mapai board and Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industries president John Byrne on behalf of the business houses paid tribute to him for his contribution to the city of Lae and the country.