The people of Gulf Province are committed to fully participate in this year’s 53rd Hiri Moale Festival celebrations in September after being invited by the Motu-Koita Assembly.
The commitment was shown yesterday through a small partnership and sponsorship announcement ceremony held at the Motu-Koita Assembly office at City Hall in Port Moresby city.
A separate contribution of K100, 000 each was committed by the Gulf Provincial Government and the Kerema District Development Authority, with the presentation said to be done at a later date.
Representing the people of Gulf to affirm their partnership and commitment was Kerema Open Electorate Member and Minister for Finance – Thomas Opa, President of Moripi Local Level Government (LLG) and representing Acting Gulf Governor and the Gulf Provincial Government – Mr. Ross Miva, accompanied by other Gulf Provincial Assembly Members and the Moripi Council of Chiefs.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Miva expressed his gratitude to the Motu-Koita Assembly for the invitation.
“This year we are delighted that we have been brought back in to be part of the festival celebrations. My presence here signifies the Gulf Provincial Government’s commitment and the people of Gulf to renew and to rewrite the Hiri Trade story of our forefathers. And I hope that with the right leadership, we will continue this partnership, relationship and friendship that we have established from back then during the Hiri Trade,” said Mr. Mivo.
On behalf of the Gulf Provincial Government, Mr. Mivo announced a commitment of K100, 000 to the Festival celebrations, with the official presentation to be done on a later date.
In his opening remark, Minister Opa said that this is a long time coming for the people of the Gulf to be participating in the Hiri Moale Festival after watching from the sideline for many years. And this partnership with the people of Motu-Koita is of significant importance, especially for the people of Elema in the Gulf.
He said the Elema Tribe were the people of a bigger part of the Gulf province from Baimuru, the Orokolo Bay in Ihu all the way to Moripi that were originally responsible for the Hiri Trade back in the ancestral days.
“This signifies a very important recognition of the relationship and the strong bond that we continue to share between our people. I just wanted to stress the important bond that we (Gulf people) have with the people of Motu-Koitabu. It goes many generations back.”
Minister Opa highlighted that the Hiri Trade had brought many of the Gulf people to Motu-Koitabuan villages and many have settled in those villages, like Vabukori, Gabi, Baruni, Tatana, Elevala and Kira Kira – Horse Camp. That is where you will find the Gulf people.
He further stated that the last Hiri voyage in recent times, took place in the 1940’s and the 1950’s. And it is now part of their responsibility to learn more about the history, heritage and culture and celebrate it through the festival.
Member for Kikori Open Electorate and Minister for Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs (DPLGA) – Soroi Eoe was expected to be part of the ceremony but was in attendance to other matters related to the Papua LNG Development forum, and passed on his sincere apology to the Motu-Koita Assembly and fellow Minister.
The 53rd Hiri Moale Festival will be celebrated from September 8th to the 13th in Port Moresby, with Ela Beach (Era Kone) to be the main centre for all celebrations.
