By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
PRIME Minister James Marape has paid his last respect to his Political Science lecturer late Dr Alphonse Gelu saying that late Dr Gelu influenced him to become a politician.
“Late Dr Gelu was my lecturer at the University of PNG in the 1990s when I was a political science student there and his teaching influenced me to become a politician. He has served as a distinguished public servant.
He could have contested seven national elections since 1992. As a political scientist, he had all the knowledge and skills to become a candidate. But he chooses to be a public servant and He remained faithful to his calling. And I challenge you public servants to stay true to your calling. Don’t cross the line to become politician,” the PM said.
PM Marape said that although late Dr Gelu is gone, his teachings and writing is with us.
“And I want to say thank you to the Nakanai tribe in West New Britain for lending your son to this country. Losing late Dr Gelu is a huge loss. His expertise that we want to extract for another 10 years is lost,” he said.
Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu also paid tribute to late Dr Gelu saying that “at the time of his passing. he was tasked to jointly organised a national election summit in collaboration with relevant Government agencies and stake holders to review the elections”.
He was also establishing the seven new districts that Parliament has created.
Mr Pomaleu said that late Dr Gelu entered public service as a lecturer at UPNG in 1988 till January 2012 when he became the Registrar of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission.
He was appointed the Secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government when he passed away from a long sickness on 4th, January 2023.
