by Delly Waigeno – EM TV, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea will mark its 40th Independence Anniversary on 16 September 2015.
To mark the milestone, Governor for the National Capital District, Powes Parkop, launched the Anniversary celebration program today in Port Moresby.
He called on Papua New Guineans throughout the country to use the anniversary as a springboard to effect change within their own communities for exponential nation-building.
The Jack Pidik Park at 5 Mile in the nation’s capital was crowded this morning for the launch of PNG’s 40th Independence Anniversary. Representations of foreign missions were also present.
With the theme “It’s 40 Years, It’s Time,” the celebrations program will span 40 days leading into September 16.
Mr Parkop said it’s time to be responsible and mature as a nation and as a people.
To start the festivities, hundreds of PNG-coloured balloons were released into the skies.
Mr Parkop said the celebrations will cost about K1.4m to host. This is a reduced figure from an initial budget of about K3m.
The Governor is also funding celebrations by stakeholder partners who are also marking the historical date.
University of PNG will receive K20,000; K10,000 to Pacific Adventist University; K10,000 to the PNG Defence Force; K10,000 to Police and K10,000 to Correctional Services.
Events being planned are:
*20 Provincial Days (13th, 15th, 21st-23rd, 29th-30th August; 4th-5th September)
*International Show 1 – England – (25th August)
*International Show 2 & 3 – Japan, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji & African Community – (29th August; 14th September)
* Contemporary Art Shows (11th September)
*PNG Arts & Culture Show (12th September)
*Sports Carnival – West Papua, Indonesia (7th-10th September)
*Gospel Music Festival (13th September)
*Ela Beach Fiesta (15 September)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=09DuWKi2Qzs%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
