Governor-general and wife jet into Bougainville for holiday

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
GOVERNOR-General Sir Michael Ogio and Lady Esmie arrived to a rousing welcome from a small crowd of supporters, including members of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, at Buka Airport yesterday.
Sir Michael said the trip was not about him but his new wife, who was visiting Bougainville for the first time.
“We are here for our holiday. I have a month’s leave and this is my first leave since taking on the job of the Governor-General,” Sir Michael said.
“The generation of young Bougainvilleans today are the hope for Bougainville, you are the peace of Bougainville.
“You must stay free of all the social ills of this world so you can lead Bougainville into a good future.
“We are a proud people, we are a peace-loving people. We must maintain the dignity we have.”
Bougainville acting president Patrick Nisira said it was an honour to have the PNG governor-general and a son of Bougainville join the people of the autonomous region in
celebrating Christmas.
“You are joining us at a time when we have succeeded in stabilising and maintaining peace in South Bougainville, which is evident in the ceasefire agreement we signed early this month with warring factions in South Bougainville,” Nisira said.
He said as a result, for the first time in six years, the people of Bougainville would be enjoying a peaceful Christmas.
Nisira commended Sir Michael for recognising the O’Neill-Namah government.
“You made a good call to recognise the O’Neill-Namah government because in the little time that their government took office, they had worked closely with the Bougainville government to ensure our constitutional grants of K15 million and special support grant of K100 million was released,” Nisira said.
Sir Michael and Lady Esmie will spend their holiday in Buka town with visits planned for Tinputz, where a customary welcome for Lady Esmie is expected from Sir Michael’s fa­mily.