namah semoso again

Namah made chief in Buka

DEPUTY Prime Minister Belden Namah was made a chief in Buka over the weekend.
Bougainville Regional MP Fidelis Semoso received him with high accord together with his Party officials.
Namah is making a second trip to Bougainville this time, to Central and South Bougainville with several leaders including Regional MP Semoso and his other PNG Party entourage.
The welcome reception for Namah into Bougainville was somewhat contradictory to the statement released by Mr Michael Laimo last week, who said that Belden Namah was not welcome in Bougainville.
Mr Namah and his team, had unknowingly arrived on Bougainville soil on Friday, June 15th, to learn that it was the 7th anniversary for the region since gaining autonomy.
It was an emotional time for Mr Namah as he recalled 15 years before, how as a young soldier he had assisted the people during the Sandline Crisis in 1997.
“I’m really touched. It’s really an emotional trip for me. The last time I set foot here was in 1996 and after that the crises happened in 1997… I am just very happy to see the people moving around freely and the reception and I feel like crying.
“After serving in Bougainville, I have learnt one thing; that Bougainvilleans are very beautiful people. I want to thank the Member for North Bougainville Mr Fidelis Semoso, Governor Mr Louta Atoi and Acting President Patrick Lisira for welcoming me”, Mr Namah said.
He added that previous successive governments neglected funding to Bougainville and that the O’Neill-Namah government was the first since the peace treaty to have allocated a budget of K100m. Mr Namah said he was happy that the Prime Minister Mr Peter O’Neill had listened to the cries of the people of Bougainville, particularly the President, Governor and the three members. The entourage were then led to the Bel Isi oval where Mr Namah continued to express his love for the people of Bougainville and challenged them to vote for the Bougainville Regional seat candidate Mr Lohial Nuau and also endorsed Regional member Fidelis Semoso as a Pro PNG Party candidate.
At the Hagogohe sports oval, the Acting President Patrick Lisira, on behalf of the President Father John Momis, said he was happy to have the Deputy Prime Minister as a special guest during their 7th anniversary celebrations.
“Mi givim bikpela luksave na welkam long Deputi Praim Minista na Jamie Maxtone-Graham, na long ol skul insait long Buka district na long olgeta Bougainvilleans( I want to extend a big welcome to Deputy Prime Minister and Mr Jamie Maxtone-Graham and to the participating schools in Buka district and to all Bougainvilleans”, Mr Lisira said.
Mr Lisira told the people that the reason for celebrating the anniversary is because a lot had happened for the region, especially in the delivery of basic social services such as schools, health services and infrastructure.
He also said the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Government (ABG) were able to maintain peace for the last seven years which was a big achievement for them.
Mr Lisira thanked the Deputy Prime Minister on behalf of the President and the people for what he did in 1997 during the Sand line Crises.
The highlight of the visit was when a chief from one of the four clans, the Nawen clan, presented two live pigs to Mr Namah and also presented him with a traditionally woven necklace to officially initiate the Deputy Prime Minister as a Chief with a new name, Belden Harin Namah, Harin meaning ‘warrior’.
Mr Namah then presented the people with K270, 000 cash. Two hundred thousand kina to the organisers of the welcome reception at the airport, K50, 000 to the participating schools and groups at the Hagogohe community, K10, 000 to the church and K10, 000 to the Bougainville Boxing club in preparation for the Pacific Games.

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