Scout leaders keen on initiating peace baton

MOROBE scout leaders hope to initiate a provincial peace baton after hiking the Black Cat Track on World Peace Day this year.
Bowali troop leader Michael Awagasi said that the Asia-Pacific peace baton travelled through Port Moresby, Lae, Madang, Wewak, Vanimo and Jayapura two years ago but never came back.
Awagasi said Lae was known for unplanned ethnic clashes so it was appropriate to initiate an annual peace baton to travel around the settlements and districts to instil peace and harmony.
“This peace baton walk should become an annual provincial event during World Peace Day on Sept 23 and hopefully it becomes a national event after seeking the chief scouts and Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio’s views,” he said.
The scout leaders met last Saturday and appointed committee members to be led by the provincial commissioner Bart Ipambonj to schedule an activities and logistics plan for the walk. The 56km World War Two historical track extends from interior Wau, Bulolo to Salamaua and Huon Gulf on the coast.
The committee members are Popen Sakale, Gerson Gideon, Helen Javienga, Steven Sovi, Awagasi, Pisai Gumar, James Masia (Lae), Peter Ariban (Bulolo), Atarus Leni, Simon Opom Munana (Watut), Simberong Yanga, Alex Guse and Elaing Ngamalu (Buang).