NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

Festival will draw tourism back to Bougainville

By Fideis Lucio

Bougainville’s Mona Festival was announced on Wednesday by Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Hon Michael Ogio [pictured].

Mr Ogio expressed his gratitude to Tourism Minister and Member for Paitt, Lawrence Bele, for taking the initiative to introduce this event to attract tourists.

Mona is a special and traditional type of canoe used in the past for trading.

The Mona Festival is a tourism initiative that aims to revive cultural activities to attract tourists from all over the world.

Joseph Watawi, Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry, called the launching of the Mona a humble ceremony and beginning of the tourism activity in the region which will greatly boost the economy.

Mr Watawi urged the people to break barriers and cultural secrecy to help tourism assist in the economic recovery of the Autonomous Region.

He urged the youths to do away with their attitudes and create an environment which will be attractive for tourists.

The Mona Festival will begin on the 17 December and run for three days. Monas from villages in the Hagogohe constituency will race across the famous Buka passage.

Fideis Lucio is a journalism student at Divine Word University

Tourism back on agenda as cruise ships return

It’s a welcome sign of Bougainville’s gradual return to normality after the devastating civil war that cruise ships are once again dropping by.

In the recent past, even expedition ships like Orion would leave Bougainville well to starboard when cruising between Gizo in the north Solomons and Rabaul.

But yesterday Clipper Odyssey [seen here approaching Buka wharf] made its third trip to Buka in the past year, berthing there for four hours.

The ship’s 50 tourists were mainly Americans and they had a good time observing cultural dances, war relics and markets before returning to the ship, which sailed to Rabaul.

It’s good news for Buka and a great sign for Bougainville.

Story by Aloysius Laukai and Keith Jackson. Pictures by Aloysius Laukai