Sepik declares holiday to parade Moem’s new colours

By GABRIEL FITO
A PUBLIC holiday for all schools in East Sepik has been declared today so children can participate and observe the Trooping of the Queen’s and Regimental Colours at the Sir Michael Somare Stadium.
Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio will be present, as well as Defence Minister Dr Fabian Pok, PNGDF Commander Francis Agwi and governor Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
Trooping of the colours is the final leg to complete the regime which was started by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, last year when he visited the country.
Prince Charles, who is the Colonel in Chief of the Royal Pacific Island Regiment, presented the colours then.
“Prince Charles only commissioned the colours but they were never trooped. We are doing it here because the colours are for Moem (Barracks) and was bought by Sir Michael Somare and the people of East Sepik,” Moem’s second in command Major Deckers Esso said.
The colours would be kept at the officers’ mess and trooped annually on the battalion’s birthday on March 11.
It would be the first ceremony in 11 years after the original colours were destroyed during a mutiny at the barracks but
Sir Michael Somare replaced them.
The governor-general, accomanied by his wife Lady Esmie, were given a red carpet welcome at the Boram Airport in Wewak when he arrived on Saturday.
They were greeted East Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare, Maprik MP John Simon, Ambunti-Dreikikir Tony Aimo, provincial government members, senior public servants, school children and the public.