Reconciliation vital for progress

By VERONICA AURE
HAILING from the Highlands, specifically from Chimbu in the Sinesine-Yongumulg area, I know that forgiveness and reconciliation play an integral part in our lives.
If there was a death, tribal fight or any issue that led to an argument or bout, for sure there will always be a reconciliation and forgiveness at the end of everything.
And naturally, being brought up in a Christian home, my dad always told me that it was better to forgive before the sun went down; “Forgive others, let others know that and cleanse your mind for progress.”
His words went in line with the recent (March 23) reconciliation between Partners with Melanesians (PWM) and the Gavara family of Idau in the Inaina Wildlife Management Area.
Joseph Gavara who is the patriarch of Inaina and his sons made a peace offering to PWM staff, management and board to apologise for his son’s unwelcoming behaviour towards PWM staff during a recent activity trip.
“Mi laik tok sori long pasin pikinini man bilong mi i bin mekim long yupela na tu mi laik tokaut olsem kain pasin bai ino inap kamap gen long bihain taim (I’d like to apologise on behalf of my son and I give my word that such behaviour will never be repeated in the future),” Gavara said.
Gavara said forgiveness and reconciliation were necessary for progress or development in any setting or environment.
He added that he and his entire family were happy to work with PWM and looked forward to more sustainable activities in IWMA.
“It takes courage and skill to be willing to repent of past wrongs and offer necessary restitution so that new levels of mutual understanding and equality can be found,” he said.
The Inaina Wildlife Management Area is traditionally a customary land which belongs to the Fagagara Clan of the Goilala area of Central. However, this group of people are found in the inland areas of Gabadi along the Hiritano Highway.
Tucked away just 70km north-east of Port Moresby, Inaina Wildlife Management Area is very scenic but still unknown to many.
The total expanse of Inaina Wildlife Management Area is 9712.2 hectares with typical evergreen lowland rainforest vegetation types found along the equatorial zones of the globe.
PWM entered into partnership with the Fagagara Clan upon their invitation in 2009 to protect their forests and waterways after extensive logging for over 10 years so it can be rehabilitated and conserved for the future of the people of Inaina.
The area was given wildlife management area status and gazetted on March 23, 2017.

• The author is PWM’s community empowerment and communications coordinator.