CHIEF Robert Satu, described as the cultural anchor of Fishing Village in Honiara, has died, leaving a vacuum that would be hard to fill.
But he died without collecting millions of dollars the government owed him in a High Court Order relating to the export of dolphins several years ago.
72-year-old Satu died at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) around 11:40pm on Saturday night, his brother George Satu told Solomon Star yesterday.
“His shoes would be hard to fill,” George said.
“His leadership exudes order, peace and tranquillity in our village here at Fishing Village. Fishing Village enjoyed peace and harmony a good part of Robert’s 72 years he lived here,” George said.
“We have lost a great leader, a great brother and a great friend,” George who accompanied him to the hospital on Saturday night, said.
Robert Satu was 72 years and 40 days old at the time of his death, his younger brother George said.
He has been in and out of hospital since his wife passed away on 7th May last year.
“Robert Satu had a problem with a valve in his heart, George said.
He was the second child in a family of eight, three girls and five boys.
One sister has since died, George said.
“With Robert gone, the family has now lost two,” George said.
Robert left six children behind – three girls and three boys, George said.
Funeral arrangements are being organized but the final program would be agreed when two other brothers – Peter the eldest and Dennis the youngest in the Satu family – arrive from Malaita on Monday.
“We just want a private family funeral,” George said yesterday.
Asked whether Robert has been able to collect his outstanding payment from the government before he died, George said he did not know.
“He (Robert) was at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on Wednesday and Thursday last week – something he does as a routine to check on the payment, But I do not know what he was told,” George said.
By Alfred Sasako
