Reigning queen to be paid dues

THE Motu Koita Assembly will settle any outstanding money owed to the reigning Hiri Hanenamo (queen) before the crowning of a new queen on Saturday.
According to the assembly’s Kopi Iubu, organisers of the Hiri Moale Festival owed reigning queen Boio Morea of Boera village some money.
She won the crown in 2014. The festival was not held last year.
“We will settle her (payments) before she hands over the title,” Iubu said.
“We owe her certain payments in lieu of travel.
“Previously, the assembly had a sister-city relationship with Townsville, Australia.
“Every year, the assembly would take the Hanenamo queen to Townsville with a cultural group as part of the package.
“However, for the past few years, this has stopped. So what we would do is pay the queen in lieu of travel.”
Morea was with other contestants yesterday during the first judging at the Port Moresby Nature Park.
“I am proud of the girls and I look forward to handing over the crown to the new queen so that we can all continue to maintain our traditions,” she said.
There are 20 contestants this year. At yesterday’s judging, they were attired in traditional dresses with the Motuan tattoo inked on their bodies.
It depicted the events of the past between the people of Motu-Koitabu and Kerema in Gulf.
The Hiri Moale Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday at Ela Beach.