Sad end to newsprint sermons

TRIBUTE

By ALPHONSE BARIASI
AN eloquent pen has dropped into hallowed silence.
The scribbling has stopped and the ink is drying up.
The keyboard has gone quiet and the emails and text messages have ended.
There’ll be no more sermon from the pulpit of the printed page.
Our dear friend and fellow scribe, Rev Seik Pitoi (July 2, 1962-Feb 14, 2022) had fought hard with a disease of the kidneys. Through it all he had remained strong and would have looked forward to his next Sunday sermon, a teaching on his pet subject of why Israel matters to Christians, or another newspaper article.
Once out of hospital a several weeks ago, he immediately got down to writing about his experiences, but the hands grew weaker by the day until there was no point trying.
On the afternoon of February 14, he was rushed back to the hospital but by 6.20 pm the life support gadgets were unplugged as he slipped into eternity.
In the end, he gave in, but I believe not in an atmosphere of defeat. Death would have come expected as the servant of the Almighty sighed his last, having fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.
Rev Seik Pitoi, son of the late statesman and senior public servant, Sir Sere Pitoi became a regular columnist to The National Weekender a couple of years ago. As a lazy editor on the odd day, I had always looked forward to his articles. He was a gifted writer, having refined his craft over the years. And he loved it.
He was a learned man, and dived into “secular” subjects with a clear head as he “preached” from the pages of The National. Many souls would have been encouraged, challenged and enlightened thanks to his writing.
He was proud of his background of blended families from his Central and Gulf sides and made no secret about those bonds as he stated in one of his Weekender articles.
The family felt honoured when a new lecture hall at the Pacific Institute of Governance and Leadership was named after the late Sir Sere. It was the Administrative College when his late father walked about on its campus.
Here’s what Rev Seik wrote in a letter in The National on April 13, 2018:
On March 22, a ceremony was held at the former Administration College to officially open the new lecture hall, funded by the Australian Government, to be known as the Sir Sere Pitoi Rumana.
This is in honour of the late Sir Sere Pitoi, who was the first national chairman of the then Public Service Board (later to be called Public Service Commission).
I remember as a small boy going to my father’s office after school at the spot where the Bank of PNG now stands.
My father, an educationist, was one of two nationals appointed to the Public Service Board which was staffed by Australian civil servants. Sir Paulias Matane was the other national.
Prior to independence, dad was chosen to localise the chairman’s position, taking over from Australian Jerry Unkles.
He held that position for about six years until he was replaced by Sir Rabbie Namaliu.
It is truly heart-warming to see that the government of the day still pays tribute to those who served well in the formative years of our country.
It is important for the newer generation to never forget the sacrifices our pioneering fathers and mothers made.
With that, I wish to thank, in particular, our Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and former DPM Secretary and ambassador designate to Australia John Kali for choosing to honour my father in the naming of the new building.
As O’Neill said on the day, one does not have to be a politician to serve the people.
Civil servants like these humble men and women of old showed us what dedication and commitment can do.
There are many more like my father out there whose selfless service made all the difference to our nation.
Some we have honoured, others we have heard about, while for many, only their families know about their exploits.

We are indebted to every one of them.
May their memories be forever honoured
Once again, on behalf of the Pitoi family, thank you.
As in writing, so was he in life – a man of many talents; a doting dad who had a ready joke to lighten up a glum atmosphere, or sing along and sway to a peroveta number.
As a young man he and a number of close Motuan friends formed a band and played popular music but the band Bamogu Union, over time lost members and morphed into a gospel group calling itself Quiet Place. Seik was in and went through the transition which would lead him closer to his eventual calling into full time ministry.
When he was a public servant working as computer operation manager in the information technology division of the Department of Finance, he was offered the opportunity to study in Israel in 2000.
He was a chaplain at the University of PNG prior to his last posting as minister at the historical Boroko United Church. It was an exciting time when he got transferred there. The church was gearing up to celebrate its diamond jubilee in June 2021, and start a rebuilding plan.
Rev Seik would have loved to be around to see the completion of the new buildings.
On Jan 11, 2022, he emailed: “Yes I am suffering from end-stage kidney disease. I’m fighting back with a vegetarian diet and renal products. I’m dizzy and weak with no energy. So please excuse me as I cannot write well. I’m working on (an article about the) Schmita Year but will take time.”
I replied happily: “Looking forward to your article/s on your situation!”
He responds: “Thank you my brother. I certainly will.”
Turns out he won’t.
The beloved husband of Marama Avie, and father of Trina, Rose and Sere, was laid to rest in Gabagaba village on Sat, Feb 19.
Bamahuta Rev!