The Divine Word University (DWU) community in Madang was humbled by the presence of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on Monday 17 October.

The Prime Minister was at the campus to provide comfort and show respect to the six students (five final year and one third year) who lost 11 parents and relatives in the plane crash at Rai Coast in Madang province last Thursday 13 of October, 2011. The parents and relatives were en route to Madang to be with their children who were to take part in the 3rd annual Missioning Ceremony for final year degree students where the students were to receive God’s blessing and a commemorative cross from the university.

Mr O’Neill attended the memorial service held at DWU’s St Joseph Freinademetz Chapel at 1.30 pm. He was with the Civil Aviation Minister Puri Ruing, Madang Governor and Rai Coast MP James Gau , Madang Regional MP Sir Arnold Amet and delegates from the national and provincial government.

Mr O’Neill also laid a wreath as Prime Minister to show his respect while 11 candles were lit during the Mass to commemorate the 11 relatives of the six students.

The Prime Minister was at the DWU campus after visiting the crash site earlier in the day.

Mr O’Neill expressed his condolences to the six students and the relatives of the other 19 people who also died in the crash. He also met with the six students personally and expressed his condolences to them.

The Prime Minister also announced the allocation of K500,000 from the government to pay for the repatriation of the bodies to their respective homes after forensic experts from Australia identify them.

Mr O’Neill said it was the first time in PNG that 28 lives were lost in a single plane crash and this was a big concern for his government.

Mr O’Neill said air transport will continue to be an important mode of transport given the geography of the country and it was the government’s job to ensure air services and facilities were improved.

He said investigation on the plane crash currently underway will be made public as soon as possible.

President of DWU, Fr Jan Czuba thanked the Prime Minister for visiting the University at its time of loss and grief.

Fr Czuba said the Prime Minister’s visit to the University demonstrated his concern for the people during a time of pain and suffering.

The memorial mass was led by retired Catholic Archbishop of Madang, William Kurtz and priests on DWU staff, Fr Philip Smith, Fr Dons Onyeke and Fr Robert Laka.

Monday’s memorial service was the second after the first one led by Fr Czuba on Saturday 15 October, 2011.

The relatives of the students and other passengers who died were also remembered during the Mass for the 3rd annual Missioning Ceremony on Friday 14 of October, 2011.

The Mass was conducted by the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Francisco Padilla who also one of the guest speakers at the Missioning Ceremony. The main guest speaker was American Ambassador Teddy Taylor.