By Sylvester Gawi – EM TV, Lae
Hundreds of people gathered this morning at St Mary’s Cathedral in Lae to pay their respects to late Singaporean businessman and long-time Lae resident, Titi Tan.
Late Mr Tan, the owner of the Morobe Stationary Group, was killed at his residence at Eriku last Saturday.
Many prominent people in Morobe described his death as a loss for the province and the country as a whole. Friends and families gathered this morning and gave a moving farewell to one of Morobe’s longest-serving businessmen.
Many of his employees broke down in tears as they paid their last respects. The late Mr Tan was not only their boss but also a father figure to many of them.
Many who turned up at the funeral service were in tears when his eulogy was shared by those who worked with him. Former Morobe Provincial Administrator Kemas Tomala described the late Mr Tan as a great man who contributed tirelessly towards the education sector in Morobe.
He supplied stationary materials for schools on credit and never asked for upfront payment.
The late Mr Tan is a victim of one several killings that shocked Lae city at the turn of the new year.
Police investigations have begun, but the business community and other senior public servants remain concerned about the growing lawlessness in Lae.
Kemas Tomala called on Morobe’s political leaders to work in partnership to address this problem. Meanwhile, three police detectives led by Director of Crimes, Peter Guiness, are in Lae to investigate the killing of Mr Tan, as well as the shooting of Moanna Pisimi on New Year’s Day.
