The Badili Muniogo Community in the Moresby South electorate of Port Moresby, met with the Foreign Affairs Minister and Member (MP) for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko this week to reconcile for the misunderstandings during the 2022 National General Elections.
The community comprises of families from the various provinces, including the traditional landowners, the Motu Koitabuans, and from the Papuan and Highlands region.
The community initiated and came together for the ceremony with pigs and food items as part of the reconciliation and pledged their support for their MP.
Minister Tkatchenko emphasized in his message to the community that all citizens were entitled to their own choice and that it was everyone’s democratic right to vote for who they feel is the right person to represent them.
“I did not go there to accept their apology, but to make very clear that there was no need to apologize to me,” said Tkatchenko.
“I basically said to them – if you’re not happy with those community leaders and coordinators that are representing you from your community, get rid of them, and replace them with people who have trust and respect, and that can show true leadership in your community. Appoint new coordinators, new leaders that will represent you with true honesty and dignity and with the trust and loyalty that you need them to have. That’s the most important thing,” said Minister Tkatchenko.
Tkatchenko also expressed gratitude and appreciation towards the initiative carried out by the community and their leadership for the good of the people.
“I appreciate a level of honesty when it comes to community leaders, who are willing to work together with my office for the good of our community and people. We look forward to now continuing where we left off and for the benefit of the community and the families for the long term,” he said.
Minister Tkatchenko then asked the community to share the food and drinks that were presented to him as part of the reconciliation, amongst the families present at the ceremony, and pledged his ongoing support to Badili Muniogo.