LIFESTYLE

Schnaubelt spearheads ceremony following death

By HELEN TARAWA
New Ireland is known for its traditional ceremonies that must be followed with the killing of pigs, sharing of food and mais (shell money) in exchange for peace and good order in the community.
These ceremonies are often held to mark a bride price, to solve disputes, the end of a mourning period and many other commitments.
Last month, I had the privilege of witnessing one of these “kastam wok” as it is commonly known in Central New Ireland in Liedan village.
It was an obligation that Namatanai MP and Forest Minister Walter D Schnaubelt had to meet after the late Dessie Toxomone, who was registered under the Walter’s Farming Association (WFA) buying point, died in an accident on her way to Namatanai.
The WFA buying point is managed by Namanatani Advance Limited (NAL).
In recognition of her passing NAL spearheaded the customary ceremony.
The WFA buying point concept was initiated by NAL which is the business arm of the Namatanai District Development Authority (DDA).
Since there was only one buying point in Namatanai mothers had been travelling from their villages to sell their produce until that fateful day on Thursday April 8, 2021.

Minister Schnaubelt had arrived in the village a day after the accident and had also given a pig and some food to the family and clan of the late Dessie as an initial contribution.
On the day of the big custom work, a convoy of 15 vehicles escorted late the Dessie’s casket from Kavieng to her village.
Minister Schnaubelt, accompanied by local level government presidents and Network Management Team (NMT) members, arrived in Liedan village just as the sun was setting.
The presentation of eighteen pigs, baskets of taro and kaukau plus some strings of mais was the order of the days as the leaders gave speeches and distributed the food and shell money.
Initially, seven pigs were given ahead and prepared for the feast that was later shared by all.
Schnaubelt handed over the remaining 11 pigs during the big ceremony with the shell money and food to the husband of late Dessie, Robin Ben and the family and the Bomagira clan.
Schnaubelt urged the people in Liedan village and the nearby communities not to take the law into their own hands.
“For every good thing that happens, there is always a negative side that follows. Only God is perfect.
“As your leader I ask your help to deliver services to the people and not to cause disruption of any kind.
“There are ways of addressing challenges. The law and order issues are being addressed by the police through the law and justice system that is enforced by the police.
“My big ask after we pay respect and release late Dessie is for the NAL operations to return to normal.
“Let’s not forget the purpose why we have introduced the buying point.
“There are considerations now to bring a sub-buying point to Central New Ireland.
“It was the plan but we will now make it a priority so that the women do not have to travel far.
“We all have learnt a lesson and you all are still my priority. I ask that everything returns to normal.
“When we pay our last respect to late Dessie we must continue with this programme for other mothers to benefit.
“Stopping this programme is not an option but to correct the wrong and move on is our priority”, he said.
Schnaubelt said the driver of the vehicle had been dealt with accordingly by law.
“You can all be rest assured that charges and the appropriate penalty will apply.
“We are helping those who have been injured and will continue to do so till the end of their treatment,” Schnaubelt said.
Ward 6 Network Management Team (NMT) member of Central New Ireland Isaac Laxidak acknowledged Schnaubelt and leaders of the six local level governments who were present for the funeral and custom work.
“It’s a time of sorrow, it was an accident that happened and it was unexpected, but everything is in God’s hands as he is the source of life.
Stanley Kiapman, the church representative in the DDA acknowledged Schnaubelt for his support in the initial day of the accident and for his presence at the funeral service and the traditional ceremony.
“We are thankful to the grace of God that sustained us in this incident and despite the loss of Dessie’s life, we have now witnessed a peaceful ceremony led by Minister and our local MP together with all the LLG presidents and NMT representatives,” Kiapman said.
Bomagira Clan leader Raphael Saluk who is also the brother of late Dessie said the custom work was a big thing that the minister and local MP had done for the people.
“I’m happy for the support of Minister Schnaubelt during this time of our sorrow and we are thankful on behalf of our people for what he has done,” he said.
Brian Sagori, a catechist who read the eulogy said late Dessie was a humble and strong woman who cared for her family and she wanted the best for them which was why she was involved in the buying point concept.
She went out of her way to ensure her family had food and that their needs were met.
Late Dessie had six children and five grandchildren.
Meanwhile, NAL will now make it a priority to introduce a WFA sub-buying point concept in the Central New Ireland in Namatanai district.
Schnaubelt said this was part of the plan when the concept was launched on Dec 15, 2018.
“Now with the death of late Dessie, the project would be given priority,” he said.

• Helen Tarawa is with the office of the Namatanai MP.

Church group flies in avocado from Fane

By ALPHONSE BARIASI
IT was possibly French missionary, Fr Jules Dubey who introduced the avocado plant into the cool Goilala area of Central around 1913.
Avocado or Persea americana,, possibly originated in the Tehuacan Valley in the state of Puebla, Mexico, although fossil evidence suggests similar species were much more widespread millions of years ago. (Wikipedia)
Fr Jules Dubey was tragically killed by locals in 1952 over an incident and his murder was covered and kept secret until years later when the murderes had all died.
Dubey and his fellow missionaries have long been gone but have left behind a solid legacy which is today enjoyed by the Goilala communities; the gospel message, health and education services plus introduced agrricultural practices and crops have changed lives for the better.
Temperate vegetables, potatoes, citrus, coffee and avocado growing very well in the cool climate. And there is opportunity to produce more but the long standing issues of transportation and reliable markets hinder efforts to increas production.
At the moment Goilala produce is just trickling in due mainly to the high cost of airfreight, according to some locals who are trying to supply Port Moresby.
Avocado has found its place among other crops there as a source of income.
Over the past few weeks, farmers from Fane have been flying bags of the fruit into Port Moresby to sell at major supermarkets.
The City Pharmacy Group’s Stop and Shop supermarkets have been buying and selling Goilala avocado besides those flown in from the highlands.
On Tuesday, April 27 three men from Fane flew in with 180kg of avocados.
This was the fourth shipment from out of their area. The fruit is collected from smallholder farmers scattered around their area.
The trio, Pastor Eric Navi, Michael Kanuf and Clement Kabani are members of the Revival Centres of PNG fellowship in Goilala. They sourced avocado from their church members as well as others who are not part of their fellowship.
After purchasing the fruit from the villagers, they packed into bags. The Air Sanga Twin Otter aircraft freight charge of K7/kg was paid from the church’s funds and the three men flew with the produce into Port Moresby.
Fellow Goilala man, Max Bauai was at the CPL depot in Waigani to welcome the three men who took in the fruit to sell. On May 5, another load of 20 bags or 400kg of Fane avocado were flown in and delivered to the CPL buying point at the Steamships Compound in Waigani but the management advised the farmers to look for another buyer in town as there was still some stock in their coolers.
CPL trainee category manager for fruits and vegetables Kennedy Eme said their supermarkets sourced avocado supplies from the highlands and more recently from Goilala.
On this day he advises theGoilala men who delivered their cargo to CPL to look for alternative markets in town.
Michael Kanuf told The National, “we have produce (avocado and other fruits, vegetables and root crops) but we need a stable market.”
Former soldier and Goilala man Max Bauai who now resides at Brown River outside Port Moresby is reiterating his plea to government and companies to consider assisting his people to fly in their produce to Port Moresby and assist them with marketing.
“I again call on political leaders from the province and other stakeholders to do something to assist struggling farmers in the Goilala area.
“This is something that should be seriously considered. Opening up and connecting the Goilala area to source the fresh produce from there would benefit the farmers and Port Moresby resident would enjoy nutritious temperate fruits and vegetables from the mountains,” Bauai said.