Representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with government, faith and community leaders this week to pay tribute to the late president of the Republic, Reverend Baldwin Lonsdale Womtelo, who died on Saturday at the Port Vila Central Hospital.
The Latter-day Saint leaders were led by Yvon Basil, president of the Port-Vila Vanuatu Stake (leader of several church congregations in Port Vila).
He was accompanied by bishops (lay ministers who lead congregations) and other local leaders.
President Basil said, "When we heard about the sudden passing of the president of the Republic, Father Baldwin Lonsdale Womtelo, we felt it was important for the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vanuatu to come and pay a last tribute to this great leader and also to convey our condolences and sympathy to his family and loved ones."
He added, "In his leadership, President Lonsdale acknowledged all the contributions made by the churches of Vanuatu in the development of this country. And particularly, late President Lonsdale was one of the few Vanuatu leaders who had accepted our invitation to come and worship with us at our chapel in Nambatu, Port Vila."
A special program was held for him when he visited the Nambatu chapel during a meeting last year. During his visit, he was given the opportunity to speak to the members of the congregation and he expressed his thoughts and his vision as a Christian leader and as the president of the Republic on how he sees the role of the churches in Vanuatu.
"Today we come to the State House to pay our last respects to this great leader for his contribution to the nation," said President Basil
"He truly was a great leader. Since he took up the post of the Vanuatu Head of State in 2014, he has done much good work such as taking clear stands against corruption in the country and has made many other outstanding stands against all forms of abuses in Vanuatu society and in the Pacific region. He worked closely with the youth, women's group, chiefs and especially the churches. His sudden passing was a shock to the whole nation and also to the entire Pacific region."
Late President Lonsdale also called upon parents in Vanuatu to play a more effective role in raising their children in such a way that they would always uphold gospel principles and become respectable citizens and leaders.
During a recent speech to the Vanuatu Christian Churches, President Lonsdale said, "Vanuatu needs more God-fearing leaders who would serve their citizens and their country with dignity and respect for all the laws and the constitution of the country."
The family of President Lonsdale, chiefs of his native Torba Province in the extreme northern part of Vanuatu and leaders from the Anglican Church of Vanuatu thanked the delegation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for coming and paying tribute.
The Vanuatu government has announced a 10 day national mourning period since his passing on Saturday 17 June, 2017. State funerals have been organized by the Vanuatu government.
Wednesday June 21, 2017 has been decreed by the Vanuatu government as a national public holiday. President Lonsdale's remains will be taken to the National Parliament Pig's Tusk Hall today where foreign dignitaries from Australia, New Zealand and heads of government in the region who have flown into Port-Vila will be able to pay their tributes to this Vanuatu statesman.
A convoy will transport the late president's coffin in a last procession through the streets of Port-Vila to the Bauerfield Airport. The citizens of Port-Vila will wait along side the streets of Port-Vila to pay their last tributes to the late president of the Republic. The Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) will then lead the last part of the procession during the final one kilometre march with the coffin of the late president from the Tagabe roundabout to the airport's VIP lounge entrance.
The VMF will do their last Guard of Honour to the late President of the Republic at the airport's tarmac before his remains will be taken via charter flight to Sola in his native Torba Province where he will be buried.
Newsroom Contributor—Jean-Baptiste CALO.