Late Sir Silas casket arrives for State funeral

THE casket of late Sir Silas Atopare, arrived at Jacksons International Terminal, on Friday 1^st October, 2021 at midday, where it was received by Acting Prime Minister Soroi Eoe, Member for Moresby South Justin Tkatchenko and PNG Defence Force Commander Major General Gilbert Toropo.

The casket of late Sir Silas was handed from his immediate family to the State Funeral Service Party earlier the same day at Goroka Airport. They then arrived at midday at Jacksons International Airport for the Military Guard of Honor ceremony at the airport, then was escorted to the Government House where the casket laid in State for two hours then proceeded to the funeral home to await the State Funeral Service which will be on Tuesday 5^th October, 2021 at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.

Sir Silas passed away on the 22^nd September in his home in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, a week after the 46^th Independence Anniversary of Papua New Guinea.

He was the 7^th Governor-General of Papua New Guinea and one of the important pioneers from his province, and also one of the founding fathers of this nation.

He was also a DPI officer who led the successful takeover of business from departing expatriates near independence and pushed cooperatives such as Farmset and communal businesses like Gouna Development Corporation and Asaro Watabung Rural Development Corporation and Highlands Henene and supported many coffee plantations such as Foinda, Roka Numbia, Anego, Hobe Muriso, and others.

He was the first Secretary General for PNG Smallholder Coffee Growers Association until his appointment as Governor-General in 1997.

Acting Prime Minister Soroi Eoe acknowledged the immediate family members of Late Sir Silas Atopare who travelled with the casket from Goroka, and said that this year has been a sad year for the Nation as it has lost another great man in PNG history.

 “At the beginning of the year we lost Sir Mekere Morauta and not long after, we lost the founding father of the nation Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and then Sir Silas Atopare. It is indeed a sad occasion for the nation as we slowly letting go not only great leaders but history itself. These are people who have contributed to this nation and I want to salute all of them,” Eoe said.

The casket will travel back to Goroka, after the State funeral service this Tuesday, where late Sir Silas will be laid in his final resting place.