Rabaul District Development Authority (RDDA) welcomed its newly appointed board members in a swearing-in ceremony held at the Rabaul District Headquarters on this week. The swearing-in ceremony marked the official start of another term with the newly appointed board members pledging to serve the people of Rabaul district dutifully. The ceremony was presided over by District Senior Magistrate Maristella Painap and saw the participation of Rabaul Open Member, Dr. Allan Marat, as the newly elected Chairman. Dr. Marat's election as the Member for Rabaul Open came after the dismissal of the leave of application filed by dismissed Rabaul MP, Graham Piniau, by the Supreme Court earlier this month. The RDDA Board now comprises of Dr. Allan Marat as Chairman, along with four mandated LLG presidents, including Town Mayor Changol Manuai, Kombiu LLG President Michael Warium, Balanataman LLG President Leonard Maing, and Watom LLG President Enos Pulumen. Additionally, there are three nominated representatives: Pentecost Talvat as the Community Representative, Fidelma Kinakap as the Women's Representative, and Pr. Richard Kais as the Church Representative. Following the swearing-in ceremony, the inaugural RDDA Board meeting was held, where discussions revolved around the districts financial and project status report for 2023. This meeting served to update Chairman Marat and other board members about ongoing projects and provide guidance for future actions. When giving his welcome remarks, Dr. Allan Marat apologized for his absence from office due to legal matters related to the election petition. He also condemned the recent fights in Rabaul Town and called for collaborative efforts among the four LLG presidents and relevant authorities to address the prevailing law and order issues. Meantime, Acting District Administrator Mr. Freddy Lemeki in his congratulatory remarks acknowledged the district's operation without a member and commended the district administration for its continued implementation of programs and development projects. He further encouraged public servants to set aside their differences and work collectively to serve the government of the day and its people. The Rabaul DDA's new board is expected to play an important role in steering the district's development and ensuring the effective implementation of various initiatives.