BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
WESTERN Province is mourning the passing of Provincial Secretary Patrick Toiraena, who passed away on Saturday, marking a significant loss for the province’s public service.
As a mark of respect, Western Provincial Government flags have been lowered to half-mast while government offices have temporarily closed to allow staff and the wider provincial administration to mourn one of their senior leaders.
Toiraena served as the Provincial Secretary since 2024, during which he was credited with leading a number of administrative reforms and development initiatives aimed at strengthening the provincial government.
In a public statement, the Western Provincial Government announced that all provincial offices will remain closed until Tuesday, 7 July 2026, and will reopen on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
“The Western Provincial Government wishes to inform the general public that, in respect of the passing of our Provincial Secretary, Mr. Patrick Toiraena, all Provincial Government offices will be closed until Tuesday, 7 July 2026, and will resume normal operations on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
“During this period of mourning, all our Western Provincial Government flags are to be flown at half-mast until the interment (burial) of our late Provincial Secretary.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and thank the public for your understanding as we join the Toiraena family in mourning the loss of a dedicated public servant and respected leader,” the statement said.
The closure affects all Western Provincial Government offices as officials; staff and the wider provincial community pay tribute to Toiraena’s service and leadership.
His passing has been described as a great loss to the province, with colleagues remembering him as a dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly to improve governance and public administration during his tenure.
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