Tributes flow in for G-G

By MALUM NALU
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has paid an emotional tribute to the late Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.
He paid the tribute at Sir Michael’s State funeral held at St Mary’s Cathedral in Port Moresby on Friday which was attended by Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General elect Bob Dadae, ministers, MPs, members of the diplomatic corps, Bougainville leaders and others.
‘Today (Friday) is a sad day for Papua New Guinea,” O’Neill said.
“We pay homage to our eighth governor-general, my wife and my family and a grateful nation join in honouring the contributions that Sir Michael Ogio has made to our country.”
O’Neill said tributes to Sir Michael had flowed in from many parts of the country and from around the world.
He said that reflected on his service to the country as a teacher, long-serving MP, minister of the State, deputy prime minister and governor-general.
He said Sir Michael brought to the office of governor-general “vast experience in public life”.
“This experience served him very well as the representative of Her Majesty The Queen as our head of State,” O’Neill said.
“He has certainly had his place in the history of our country.”
O’Neill said Sir Michael left behind a legacy in the work he had done in Bougainville, especially during difficult times, when he had made some important decisions.
He said Sir Michael was minister for Bougainville and his work had impacted on the lives of many people on Bougainville.
O’Neill said this included schools, health and infrastructure on the island.
“Our people should be proud of the contributions he made,” he said.
O’Neill said Sir Michael travelled frequently and had a lot of engagement with people during his time as governor-general.
“His relationship with governments, not only our government but governments in the past, he has at all times believed in the supremacy of our Constitution, laws and fundamentals of our democracy,” he said.