By GEORGINA MICHAEL
NCD Governor Powes Parkop and Metropolitan Superintendent Warrick Simitab have assured the public of safety during the Momase Day festival at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium today.
Mr Parkop and Supt Simitak held a media conference yesterday to allay fears and concerns about today’s event following the Highlands Day celebrations last Saturday that was marred by mob violence.
They were joined by other members of the festival organizing committee, City Manager Ravu Frank, UPNG Student Representative Council president Clinton Maliaba, Sergeant Ben Bala of NCDCV Urban Safety Unit, Fazilah Bazari from NEC/Prime Minister’s Department and Xavier Wablasu of NCDC Events Team.
Governor Parkop said: “Firstly, on behalf of the panel here, I express our profound sympathies and apologies to those who were victims of last week’s event.
“We have started to reach out to reach out to victims, try to help them recover, especially with their physical injuries, I have also taken personal responsibility to help those that I can help and we will continue to reach out to them.
“Our decision to go on with the Momase Day tomorrow is not one of arrogance or indifference to pain and drama.
“Our decision to go ahead with the last part of the celebrations is to fully help us to heal to show that Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea, our country and our people can be greater than one bad day.
“It’s also to acknowledge and give the platform to our Momase community, both our students at UPNG and also the Momase people in our city,”
“The most important reason to continue with the Momase Day tomorrow is to complete the PNG story. Momase is part of Papua New Guinea and the PNG story is not complete without them being part of it.
“Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare hails from the Momase Region and was the architect of our country, and he is the vision and the passion behind the great story of Papua New Guinea.
“And so we have to allow the Momase community to be part of celebration and complete the journey. Interestingly, this event is preparing us to come together, all the four regions leading out to the Golden Jubilee of the country in September.
“It is very important for our city, our country and for our people to show unity, to show togetherness to show that we are a great city and we are a great country.”
Met Supt Simatab: “I want to appeal to the people to respect the rule of law, law and order is not a police issue only, instead it is everybody’s business, the public, the important stakeholders, the media, the police will need your support in policing.”
He said the police “Safe City” operations would begin today and continue until Independence Day on 16 September.
Reflecting on last Saturday’s violent incident, Sgt Bala said police were taken by surprise but later managed to quell the mob violence.
He said police would be in full force for today’s celebrations. “We assure the public of Port Moresby that the city will be safe tomorrow all the way to the September 16 celebrations and continue on.”
City Manager Frank said: “I also want to appeal to the people to respect the rule of law and also respect one another and come enjoy the event in peace.
“With the police assuring us that security will be provided, this an appeal to everyone that is intending to do bad things that the law will catch up to you.
“We look forward to this event on Saturday and encourage everyone to come and enjoy and close the PNG story on a high note.”
UPNG SRC president Maliaba thanked Governor Powes for giving students the opportunity to be part of the great PNG story.
He added that UPNG students were not involved in last week’s incident and were looking forward to celebrating Momase Day.