The Waganghalu & Buhaluc Villages in Labuta Local Level Government (LLG) in Nawaeb District in the Morobe Province had a peace reconciliation ceremony recently that will now allow service to flow into the area and especially the upgrade of Labuta Coastal Highways. Speaking to the masses that gathered to witness this occasion, Nawaeb MP Theo Pelgen said three years of differences among the two villages was far too long a time period and that this had slowed the progress of development. "We stand here today to see off the pains, sufferings and the differences that have kept us apart for the last three years. We have now chosen a path to peace, and we have to reconcile once and for all.” He told the people that the course could be changed through peaceful means and not by violence and aggression and that required collective efforts from all. “Development into the area has been stalled because of the conflict and now that this has been settled, people will expect to see developments in the LLG.” The Nawaeb District Chief Executive Officer Buds Botike reiterated his MP’s message to the people as well, saying that now that there is peace, services would follow suit. “We at the district level would ensure services in health and education are implemented. Construction on Labuta Highway will begin early next year.” He urged Buhalu and Waganghalu villagers to put away their differences, stand together and accept development into their area. Forty-thousand Kina, pigs and garden food were shared among two villages of Labuta local level government, Nawaeb in Morobe after a three-year conflict was settled on Saturday. The conflict between Buhalu and Waganghalu villages of wards 9 and 10 started after a youth from Buhalu was murdered on Sept 20, 2020. In retaliation to the death of the youth, Buhalu people burnt down 43 houses belonging to the Waganghalu people. This caused the blockage of the road access for the Buhaluc Villages past Waganghalu, when travelling up to Lae. The only access for them was by sea transportation. During the ceremony at Laulu Primary School, Ward 9 Councilor, Yaeng Kahu, made an appeal to youths from both sides that since peace and reconciliation had been done, they had to respect each other and the rule of law. "Let us not to live in our past during this festive season rather we have to maintain peace, unity and harmony among us all,” Kahu said.