by Edwin Fidelis – EM TV, Kokopo
The US Ambassador to PNG, Walter North, has labeled the PNG-US relationship as a “very old one”.
At the launching of the Pacific Partnership mission in Rabaul on Monday, North said it’s a 73 years old friendship that is growing older and stronger.
His comment follows the visit of Mercy, the United States Naval Hospital Ship to Rabaul earlier this week.
The arrival of Mercy, the US Naval floating hospital is one that has reaffirmed the PNG-US partnership that began a very long time ago.
While many may not see it as important, North says it’s a representation of hard work by the forefathers, who sacrificed their lives as helpers of the allied force during the Second World War’s Battle of the Pacific.
The visit of Mercy under the Pacific Partnership Mission serves to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.
East New Britain province has been viewed as one of the places located within a disaster zone, and the visit to the province this week is one that seeks to teach the East New Britain people how to fend for themselves in the days following a disaster.
The visit of Mercy to Papua New Guinea occurs every two years, and it brings with it some of the vital services that the PNG Government can’t provide to its people.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=flK6EAWpy9k%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
