Grave concerns over Bitapaka visitor fees

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By ELIZABETH VUVU

AUSTRALIA War Graves Commission (AWGC) has raised concern over a decision by Bitapaka LLG in Kokopo to charge a fee for all visitors to Bitapaka War Cemetery.
A circular from the LLG was sent out to all tourism operators in East New Britain as well as the provincial tourism authority on March 28.
Deputy Governor and LLG president, Cosmas Bauk advised that the LLG had decided to commence charging a K5 fee to all visitors to the cemetery starting April 1.
The circular said this was in order for the Bitapaka LLG to set up a Bitapaka human resources investment education trust fund.
East New Britain Chamber of Commerce president David Stein last week established contact with the AWGC regarding the issue and also wrote to Bauk.
Stein said the AWGC advised that the matter had been raised already with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and the Australian High Commission.
The AWGC said their security provider would be instructed not to allow a paying office to be set up within the area of Bitapaka War Cemetery by the LLG.
It said if required, additional security would be in place for Anzac Day tomorrow to ensure commemorative services occurred without disruption.
The AWGC also sent out letters to Bitapaka LLG and East New Britain Tourism Authority last week.
Stein, in his letter to Bauk, expressed dismay that the LLG would even think of imposing a visitor fee on a cemetery of such international significance and importance.
He formally requested that the decision by the LLG be rescinded immediately because it went “against the grain of decency to ask people to hand over money in order to pay their respects in a place that honoured those who lost their lives protecting the country from invasion, and whose sacrifice has allowed us to enjoy the freedom experienced today”.
Stein said the War Cemeteries and Graves Act specified that the War Graves Commission was exempted from national, provincial and LLG dues and taxes, including exemption from charging an entrance fee.
Susie McGrade, from the Rabaul Historical Society, said by slapping a K5 entrance fee on visitors, the LLG showed “a total contempt for decency, humanity, history and the future”.
Attempts to get comments from Bauk have been unsuccessful.