Condolence messages have started coming in for Late Menyamya MP Thomas Pelika, after notices of his passing were announced this morning.
Lae MP and Lands and Physical Planning Minister John Rosso, he described Mr. Pelika as a committed leader.
“On behalf of my people of Lae, my family, and the Department of Lands & Physical Planning, I would like to convey my deepest condolences the immediate families, relatives, and the people of Menyamya on the sudden passing of my brother and Late Member for Menyamya, Hon. Thomas Netato Pelika.”
As the Chairman of the Morobe Provincial Lands and Physical Planning Board, Pelika was a vocal leader on issues surrounding illegal land grabbing.
Rosso said, “He has been supportive in my bid to eradicate land grabbing and illegal settlements in the city… His service to the people of Morobe and this nation will be greatly missed by all of us…”
In a statement released by Minister for National Planning and Wau-Bulolo MP Sam Basil, he said Mr. Pelika suffered from a severe stroke last week Tuesday, on the 23rd of October. This left him in a critical condition.
“Doctors tried in vain to stabilize his condition in order to allow for a medical evacuation into Port Moresby from Lae but unfortunately, Hon. Pelika could not be stabilized or revived.”
Mr. Pelika passed on at about 9 o’clock this morning, at the Angau Memorial General Hospitals Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Basil said Mr. Pelika was “steadfast, loyal and instrumental in setting up the new Labor party.”
By Lucy Kopana, EMTV News, Lae
