Maprik welcomes O’Neill

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Friday 14th of March, 2014

By ROSELYN ELLISON
PEOPLE of Maprik, in East Sepik, welcomed Prime Minister Peter O’Neill with an open heart and in  true Abelam way yesterday at Hayfield Airport in Maprik.
Cultural groups dressed in traditional, colourful attire gave O’Neill a warm welcome.
People came from all over Central  Sepik, including Nuku and Lumu, in West Sepik, to witness the occasion.
Accompanying the prime minister were national MPs, including Minister for Works and Implementation and Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa, Telefomin MP Solan Mirisim, Vice-Minister for Sports and Moresby North-East MP Labi Amaiu and East New Britain Governor and Kokopo MP Ereman ToBaining Jr.
O’Neill was received by East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare, a former Prime Minister, Maprik MP John Simon and his fellow MPs in the province, including Angoram’s Salio Waipo, Minister for Correctional Services and Wewak MP Jimmy Simatab, Wosera-Gawi’s Joseph Yopiyopi as well as Minister for Forest and Climate Change and Aitape MP and National Alliance party leader Patrick Pruaitch.
 Simon welcomed O’Neill.
“We accept you Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare with our open hearts,” Simon  said.
“We thank you for accepting our invitation.
“I thank you Sir Michael for you humbleness.”
Simon outlined impact projects that the prime minister was to launch, including  the ground-breaking ceremony of the Hayfield Airport, unveiling of the Maprik Hospital redevelopment billboard and plan and the opening of the Bank South Pacific Maprik sub- branch.
Simon said the people of Maprik would always support the prime minister. “On behalf of the people of Maprik I thank you for free education and health – these two are  key services,” he said.