WITNESS

James Martin (wearing hat), who worked as chief engineer with Lutheran Shipping, prepares to board a banana boat with his wife’s casket for burial at Siassi. Martin and his relatives travelled from Madang to Lae. On Friday they travelled on to Finschhafen and then Siassi for the funeral.
It is a long journey and one the people of Siassi in Morobe take now that there is no regular shipping service. The journey is done by banana boat or dugout canoe and often dangerous. Umboi, also named Rooke or Siassi, is the main island in the group and lies between the mainland of Papua New Guinea and the island of New Britain. The island is separated from New Britain by Dampier Strait and Huon Peninsula, and New Guinea Island by Vitiaz Strait.
The Member of Parliament is
Dr Kobby Bomareo.