This Generation Still Need Next Okuk

By JOHNNY POIYA

Kundiawa Town was quiet yesterday with businesses continuing as usual even though a few

shops were closed following the death of Kundiawa Gembogl MP Joe Mek Teine on Monday.

Mourning Enduka tribesmen and supporters were seen along the Highlands Highway from Mingende in Kerowagi district to Kundiawa town.

Attempts and plans to cause destructions to government properties along the highway early yesterday morning ebbed away during the day after Provincial Administrator Joe Kunda, a tribesman of late Mek Teine, appealed for peace and normalcy.

“He died a natural death. We must not cause any disturbances or take the law into our own hands,” Mr Kunda told his tribesmen, the people of Kundiawa and the province.

“Thorough details of his death would identify the cause of his death so let’s not do anything Joe Mek Teine would not have wanted us to do.”

He said the people of Chimbu never caused any destruction in the past when prominent leaders like Sir Ignasius Kilage, Kondom Agaundo, Sir Joseph Nombri, Joe Bal, Sir Yambaki Okuk and several others died and hoped the same spirit would continue.

A committee has been established to arrange for the funeral when the body goes home from Port Moresby, most likely in the next week.

The death of Mr Teine comes five weeks after the death of his district administrator and long time public servant in the province, Enga man Kepa Pandan. Kundiawa Gembolg District is now without an MP and district administrator.

Mr Teine’s brother and lawyer Alphonse Yer also died of a similar cause some years ago.

Mr Teine’s death leaves a vaccum in one of the oldest political parties in the country, the PNG National Party. The party’s prominent figures were Sir Yambaki and former Hagen MP Paul

Pora, who died late last year.

Former Party president David Yak said the death was a “big blow” to the party’s future as Mr Teine was the building block the party was going to step on to see some changes after the 2012 elections.

“We already had our plans in place and were aiming for the party to return bigger and popular in 2012. We’re not sure how we’ll go into 2012. God gives leaders and takes, so we know, out there, someone is going to come and lead,” Mr Yak, who is contesting the Western Highlands Provincial seat, said.

The National Alliance Party’s Enga and Western Highlands presidents Paul Kurai and John Moksy passed on their condolences to the family and relatives of Mr Teine, saying he was a quality leader.

“It’s not only the Chimbu people but Mr Teine has a long standing relationship with the people of Western Highlands, Enga and the coalition government. It’s sad that such a quality leader dies suddenly,” Mr Kurai said.

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110427/news10.htm