O’Neill celebrates Independence Day in New York

PAPUA New Guineans in New York celebrated the 36th Independence anniversary with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill last Saturday.
O’Neill was in New York for the 66th United Na­tions general assembly.
Accompanying him were Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Ano Palaa, Minister for National Planning Sam Basil, Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Jamie Max­tone-Graham and Fisheries Minister Job Pomat and government officials.
The event was hosted by the PNG permanent repre­sentative to the UN, Robert Guba Aisi.
Invited guests from Pacific Islands countries inclu­ded the president of Nauru and the prime ministers of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Representatives of Australia, New Zealand and other “Friends of PNG” also attended.
Aisi said the Independence Day was on Sept 16 but the PNG community in New York decided to celebrate it last Saturday when O’Neill and his delegation would be there.
O’Neill told the gathering that PNG now had a new team made up of vibrant, energetic and young leaders who were prepared to take the country forward.
He thanked the delegations from the Pacific Islands countries present to witness the celebration.

, saying it was a sign of maintaining a vibrant and strong relation the Pacific way.
In the true Pacific Way, each country was invited to sing a song.
An anniversary cake was cut by O’Neill and the Papua New Guinean children living in New York.