By
Aloysius Laukai
The
Governor of New Ireland and former Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan, this
morning said he was happy to visit Bougainville
As Prime
Minister, Sir Julius engaged the Sandline mercenaries to fight in Bougainville
and today’s big reconciliation ceremony is designed to end the ill feeling
created at that time between the people of New Ireland and Bougainville.
Last
year a similar ceremony was held in Kavieng. Today’s ceremony was held in Buka.
Sir
Julius was welcomed by the regional member for Bougainville, Hon Fidelis Semoso,
the ABG Vice President, Hon Ezekiel Masat, and members and ministers of ABG.
Ieta and Malasang traditional groups welcomed the
delegation from New Ireland into Buka Town
There were two ceremonies to welcome first the Maimais
who came by ship and another delegation that arrived later on Air Niugini. The
group who came by boat arrived at Buka main wharf at eight o’clock to be
welcomed by chiefs and dancers from Ieta village.
A peace ceremony was performed at the wharf between
the chiefs and the Maimais. Paramount Chief for Ieta John Nalei welcomed the
group to Buka island and told them they had nothing to fear as the people of Bougainville have been waiting for this ceremony to
happen.
In his welcome address, Mr Semoso assured Sir Julius that peace and normalcy has taken place on Bougainville adding that he had nothing to fear whilst in the province.
Sir
Julius thanked the people of Bougainville
All of
today’s ceremonies were carried live on New Dawn FM.
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