LOUISIADE Women’s Association in Samarai Murua District of Milne Bay Province is calling on Prime Minister James Marape to visit their district.
The call was made at a week-long annual general meeting (AGM) at Bwagaoia Station on Misima Island recently.
The AGM was staged by the association and its members, mostly comprised of women from islands and atolls in Louisiade Local Level Government.
President of the association, Elizabeth Donald and manageress of the Misima Guest House, Violet Elvis, jointly made this call when addressing the women in the presence of Samarai Murua MP and Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture Hon. Isi Henry Leonard at the closing of the AGM last weekend.
Both women also echoed similar sentiments concerning Misima Mines which sustained the country’s economy in the 1990s during the height of the Bougainville crisis among other economic issues the nation was facing but after the closure of the mine, the island and its people were left with nothing to show for.
The people of Misima Island and the surrounding atolls had to pick themselves up again and continue their livelihood after this period without much government services.
The Women’s association strived to maintain its business arm through the Misima Guest House over these past years with different managements running it.
They said it was not been easy, but the women members of the association kept the operations going year after year.
The women are now calling on Prime Minister James Marape and his government to help the association and district build a hotel on Misima Island as part of the recent increase in tourism activities in Samarai Murua District and Milne Bay Province.
They presented a bagi (Traditional necklace of high value and significance made only in Milne Bay province) for PM Marape to Minister Leonard who will then present it to the Prime Minister this week as a token of their support for the Marape/Rosso government.
Minister Leonard thanked the women and supported their call for a visit to the district by PM Marape and a delegate soon.
“We are one of the largest maritime districts in the country with so much marine resources and massive potential in the mining industry.
“Bur story is the same with many other isolated districts. Delivering services to our people is a constant challenge, however, I have been mandated to bring solutions and help improve the livelihood of my people.
“That is exactly what we are doing, and at the same time putting the district office and systems in order by aligning our plans and programs, so we can deliver for the people.
“We are a resilient people and we will continue to survive through all these challenges,” Minister Leonard said.
