Teine’s death a huge loss for Chimbu

THE untimely death of Joe Mek Teine is a huge loss for the people of Chimbu, especially those in Kundiawa-Gembogl.
He was a leader who served the people.
He spent most of his time in Kundiawa, serving and attending to his people’s problems and needs.
He conducted his business from Kundiawa and owned the Kundiawa hotel.
His law firm is also based in Kundiawa.
Teine was a down-to-earth leader who fought for the grassroots, regardless of where they come from.
He contested in several general elections but was never victorious until in 2007.
Since then, he had done a lot for Kundiawa-Gembogl as its mandated MP.
He headed the law reform commission and was seeking opinions on how to punish sorcery-related killers when he passed away.
The practice of sorcery or “sanguma” in the highlands region is rampant and many innocent people are killed for no good reason.
The country needs someone of his calibre and determination to pursue the “sanguma” bill until it becomes a law of Papua New Guinea.
The students of Kundiawa-Gembogl and other parts of Chimbu attending various tertiary institutions in the country are sad and dismayed to have lost a man who was like a father to many of us.
We know Teine has been blessed by our Heavenly Father and may he rest in peace.
On behalf of the people of Naur Gor and Chimbu students here at Unitech, I take this opportunity to convey our belated condolences to the immediate family and relatives of the Joe Mek Teine.

Joseph Dua Nolai
Lae