Late Central Bougainville MP body to be flown into Port Moresby early next week

The body of the late Central Bougainville MP Fr. Simon Dumarinu is expected to be repatriated to Port Moresby early next week.

The late MP passed on suddenly in the early hours of Friday morning at the Arawa hospital.

Information received by this newsroom from authorities responsible in Waigani, indicate his body will be flown over on Tuesday with preparations for his funeral to follow soon after.

There are indications, the late Dumarinu's traditional lie-in-state for final farewell by his colleagues will take place in the September sitting of Parliament.

The Regional Member for Bougainville and Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr expressed his profound sadness, describing the late MP as a true servant of Bougainville.

“He devoted his life to the service of the people as a seminarian, an ordained priest, a peace builder, and most recently as the Member for Central Bougainville in our national parliament.

“The honorable MP was a true man of the people, for the people. He was committed to the development of Bougainville and was actively involved in supporting the implementation of arrangements for Bougainville’s independence following the 2019 referendum result.

“He believed in empowering Bougainvillians to achieve their true destiny and as a local member he sought to develop grass roots projects to benefit the people and the local economy,” Tsiamalili Jr said.

Late Fr. Dumarinu’s death is a surprise to the nation, the Autonomous Bougainville Government [ABG] and the Social Democratic Party [SDP].

SDP party leader and NCD Governor Powes Parkop in a statement on Friday morning described Late MP as ‘A loyal stalwart’ of the party.

He described Fr. Dumarinu’s life as a man of peace, reconciliation and unity.

“He believed in achieving a unique outcome for Bougainville and PNG. We have achieved a unique peace, and we can achieve a unique future for Bougainville and PNG. We shall continue your dream, our dream for PNG and Bougainville.”

The cause of death is yet to be made known however, reports received by NBC News say that the late MP fell ill while returning from his village, Orami in the Panguna District of Central Bougainville on Thursday.

Fr Simon Dumarinu is the 14th MP to die in office, the highest recorded so far in any parliamentary term.