Parkop gives traditional welcome gifts

Caption: Governor Parkop (L) being given a baskets with carved stoned ornaments inside as a gift a appreciation from a New Caledonia delegate.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 6, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

NCD Governor Powes Parkop made a true Melanesian gesture of welcome last week when he presented garden produce and pigs to delegates of the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture last week.

The gift was Parkop’s personal token of welcome for participants as the governor of the city, seven piles of gifts were presented to the seven groups.

Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Indonesia’s West Papua region, along with food piles for Timor Leste and the Torres Straight groups were presented on Wednesday.

Food stuff were flown in from other parts of the country to give a true representation of traditional PNG food from taros from Lae, yams, sago, bananas, and other vegetables from the highlands and pigs.

National Cultural Commission Acting Executive Director Dr Jacob Simet thanked the governor for the gesture towards the visitors.

“The governor has come here to welcome our guests, maintaining systems of cultural protocols of welcoming,” Dr Simet said.

Governor Parkop said that the small gesture was from his family and on behalf of the city adding that as the governor of the city.

“It is important for us to greet and welcome our guest in true PNG style, because they have travelled far and wide,” Governor Parkop said.

“You have already given gifts to the governor general during the opening ceremony and we are here to show our hospitality in true PNG style.”

He hoped that their stay in the nation’s capital would change the negative perception that the city has held to the outside world.

Delegates received their welcome gifts with appreciated and some like the New Caledonians who were emotional at the gesture presented gifts in exchange to the governor.