Kiriwina District Administrator John Ephraim has called on the people of Gameta on the Trobriand Islands, in Milne Bay Province to return home to their village after they had fled for their safety during a fight that erupted after a football grand final match on Saturday causing the death of a man from Bwetalu.
The call comes after successful negotiations between the district administrator and village elders of the warring factions that calmed down tensions between locals from Gameta and Bwetalu.
A meeting was held last night that lasted till early hours of this morning to negotiate peace and calm between the two factions at Bwetalu Village.
DA John Ephraim said that there was a rumour that the people from Bwetalu were planning on raiding Gameta Village were the apparent death had happened.
Mr Ephraim confirmed the death while adding that three (3) others were referred to the Alotau General Hospital due to the extent of their injuries and more receiving treatment at the Losuia Health Centre.
“A quick response team from the Alotau are here on the island to assess the situation and have been visiting affected villages carrying out awareness on not to take the law into their own hands.”
“After hours of negotiations, at 5:30am this morning, the people from Bwetalu agreed to lay down their arms and let the law deal with the matter,” Ephraim said.
He said people from Gameta who had fled their homes in fear can go back home now.
Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Peter Barkie said that the quick response team will start investigations and people that were involved in causing the fight will be dealt with.
PPC Barkie added that the team will be on the island monitoring and assessing the situation until tensions settle and the situation is arrested.
PC: Getty Images