Gaming board gives K200,000 to pageant

By Sharlyne Eri
The National Gaming Board donated K200,000 to Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) PNG.
Chief executive officer of the board Imelda Agon handed the cheque to the deputy chairperson of the pageant Molly Rau O’Rourke and patron and wife of Prime Minister Lynda Babao-O’Neill.
She said NGB was pleased to support the pageant because it promoted the diverse cultures of the country and the winner became the ambassador of the country.
The quest also gives young women the opportunity to excel in the pageantry  and public appearance, she said.
Reigning Miss Pacific Abigail Havora attended the presentation and thanked NGB for its continued support and the hardworking committee, including chairperson Kathy Johnston and  O’Rourke.
The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant started in Samoa and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. It was extended to PNG six years ago and during this time the National Gaming Board had become the official sponsor.
O’Rourke said her committee was blessed to have NGB as a backer.
She said the pageant promoted the diverse cultures of the Pacific countries and empowered young women to become ambassadors of their cultures as well as excel in what they did.
Meanwhile, the fifth contestant in the pageant PNG was launched this week. She is 23-year-old Rose Lakore Pitoi,  sponsored by the International Training Institute as “Miss ITI” 2016.