Finance Minister and Tari Pori MP James Marape described the late Hela Governor Anderson Pawa Agiru as a star that will shine in the memory of the new Hela Province.
When paying his tribute on Wednesday at the funeral service in Port Moresby, Marape said late Agiru was a champion in Hela and will be treasured in the hearts of the Hela people forever.
Marape said it was very hard to find the right words to describe a man who he thinks is the greatest contemporary orator and writer of his days.
"You were born a star, you lived a star and this star will shine in the archives of memory forever.
“In the formative seventies, you shone along the southern slopes, traversing all hills, valleys, riverside and bushes singing all songs of your motherland.
“You rolled through the rolling eighties shining in study, rugby and work. In the mighty nineties your might in politics shone rays of hope into our hearts. You warmed our hearts even to this day.
“You were the big star of the Southern Cross. Shining over your peers, you shone visions, dreams, aspirations and hope. You shone light in many places of darkness, including the LNG when PNG did not see LNG back then.
“We today live under your illumination.
“Thank you our star, you will forever shine in our memories and many more generations to come,” Marape stated.
“Long live the big star of the Southern Cross group of stars. As journeymen traverse the sea towards development, may the stars of the Southern Cross, including the big star, guide us to the shores of development; for you will live on and guide us through our memories.
“It has been a long tiring day, goodnight brother, yes goodnight it is and not goodbye. For we shall meet again on that golden resurrection morning when Jesus defeats death to present us eternal blissful life."
The body of late Agiru will be flown to Mendi, Southern Highlands, then to Hela today.