Baton to visit Chief’s tomb

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE Queen’s baton will visit the burial site of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare at Kreer Heights upon arriving in Wewak tomorrow morning via Port Moresby from Brunei before Sunday’s relay.
Events officer Jason Handikiang, from the Office of the East Sepik Governor, told The National yesterday that preparations were underway with plans for the baton to visit significant sights in the province.
He said tomorrow would be an introduction with a photoshoot in Wewak, but the main event on Sunday would see the baton taken on a relay around the province.
“We’ve started preparations with a clean-up, introduction and the script for the baton bearers in the town and out to the Wewak Islands,” Handikiang said.
“We’ve captured all the baton bearers, there are about 80 of them who will be running with the baton alongside some significant people from East Sepik.
“We will be going through the programme with everyone involved, stakeholders, business houses, persons with disabilities, churches and sports associations.
“On Saturday, the programme will start at 6am at the airport, where we’ll receive the baton.
“From there, the bearers will take the baton to Kreer Heights to the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s burial site, where it will spend an hour.
“We’ll then run with it down to Sir Michael Somare Stadium before taking it through the Meni Beach road into the main town for a photoshoot.
“That will end the welcome day before the baton rests at Village Inn on Wewak Hill.”
Handikiang said Sunday’s relay programme would start at 4am with a drive to Boikin outside Wewak, where the baton would cross over by boat to the Wewak Islands.
“The baton will visit other islands in Wewak, including Karasau, Yuo, Kairuru Island, and then it will come to Wom and Robin Island,” he said.
“We will have the villagers floating on their canoes in their traditional attire with fire and everything to welcome the baton.
“It will pass by them and on to the Post Office boat stop, where a Seventh-day Adventist pathfinder group will march with it to the Post Office.
“The baton will then be taken to the airport to be flown around the significant landmarks in East Sepik.
“First, it will fly over Maus Kopar, that’s the opening of the Sepik River.It’s a very significant place as it is the largest tuna breeding area in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The next stop will be Kambaramba, where the floating people live (houses built over the river).
“Then it will go to Chambri Lakes before moving on to Ambunti, where the crocodile festival is hosted.
“From there, the baton will visit the tomb of Sir Pita Lus in Maprik.
“Bradley Simon will receive the baton and hand it over to Maprik MP John Simon before it returns to Wewak to rest at Village Inn.”
Coordinating official Charles Kapringi said the organising committee, through the Office of the East Sepik Governor, was working to ensure they showcased PNG through the multiple sights in East Sepik.
“We will make PNG proud by showcasing the province as a way of showcasing PNG as a whole,” he said.
The baton will depart Boram Airport on Monday morning for Port Moresby, where it will be received by Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae before it departs for the Solomon Islands on Tuesday.