THE Government of India has presented a cheque of US$50,000 (K178,707.10) to the National Cultural Commission (NCC) in Port Moresby last week
ON behalf of the Marape-Rosso Government the Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, Isi Henry Leonard was there to receive the cheque.
The occasion saw Indian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea His Excellency, Shri Inbasekar Sundaramurthi presenting the cheque to Minister Leonard, purposely to purchase Information Technology equipment for NCC’s Head Office and its cultural institutions.
Indian High Commissioner also presented 24 desktop computers, 20 laptops, four printers and a tower server to the NCC staff.
“These are difficult times and your Excellency on behalf of the Marape-Rosso Government, I convey our appreciation to the people and the Government of India for this generous gesture which you presented to the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture,” Minister Leonard said.
“My ministry is privileged to be considered for this important and relieving support at this time particularly after the slump in the world’s economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were hit with the war in Ukraine that had attributed to the increase in fuel prices shortage of food that had basically affected the world economic again.
“So, this gesture indicates a strong mutual relationship that the Government of India and PNG have maintained and shared thus far.”
Minister Leonard also announced the departure of PNG’s reggae sensation, Anslom Nakikus, to India to perform in the international independent Music Festival at Kerala Arts and Craft Village, India last week.The Ministry supported Nakikus with K5,000.
Minister Leonard said Nakikus’s travel sets a pathway for further cultural exchange programmes between the two countries in the future.
Meanwhile, he said the Government is waking the talk of “Taking back PNG through culture and arts”.
“We at NCC have developed a National Cultural Policy 2022-2032 which amongst other directives addresses failures of previous Governments. The protecting, safeguarding, developing and promoting our cultural heritage is a constitutional mandate but this have taken a back seat over the years. This will now change because of the support from your (Indian) Government,” he said.
