Central aims to revive historical heritage sites to boost economic benefits

THE Central administration aims to revive its historical heritage sites to boost economic benefits and ensure these pieces of the province’s past are preserved for future generations.
The province’s aspirations were made possible through the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the National Cultural Commission (NCC) in Port Moresby yesterday.
Central administrator Francis Koaba said the province contained a number of colonial mission structures with historical significance that needed to be protected.
One such structure is a 100-year-old cathedral in Yule Island in Kairuku.
He said preserving historical relics and sites was not only good for future generations but also honoured Papua New Guineans and foreigners who contributed to building the province and the country.
Koaba said, aside from coming to see the country’s plant and animal life, tourists were also interested in country’s history and having these sites available for visits could be another aspect of tourism in PNG.
He said the agreement would enable them to work towards achieving the three pillars in a five-year development plan of agriculture, sports and tourism under the heritage programme.
NCC chief executive officer Steven Kilanda said Central was the third province to sign an agreement with them.
The other provinces with arrangements with NCC are Milne Bay and Enga.