Arousing welcome in Western Highlands impresses United Nations Boss
After visiting Wewak in East Sepik and Nuku in West Sepik Province, United Nation's Secretary General Antonio Guterras landed at Kagamuga Airport in Mt Hagen yesterday afternoon.
Having received from the Kagamuga Airport by the Western Highlands Weldo Women's singsing group, women putting bilum around his neck with a warmth smile and eager public outside the airports fence waiting to see for themselves a global leader stepping foot on the soil of Western Highlands.
A welcoming rouse by the people along the four lane Highway from Kagamuga into Mt Hagen City with people already into Independence vibe dressed up in Black, White, Red and Gold waved to the H.E Guterres making him feel part of their society.
When addressing the officials including Governor Wai Rapa at Sir Mara Haus- the Provincial headquarter, Mr. Guterres was impressed with the welcome.
"When a friend heard that I was visiting Papua New Guinea, he told me to not to miss Mt Hagen, and indeed i must say i am deeply impressed.
"This is the true meaning of hospitality I felt when I came to Mt Hagen," Guterres said
Spent 30 minutes at the Mara Haus, Mr. Guterres applaud the Central government for recognizing decentralization of powers to the provincial and local level government as these are the government on the ground that really knows the needs of their people.
"But what is remarkable is, I know many democratic countries, in which the central government is democratic but afterwards the central government gives orders to the rest of the country, and the rest of the country does what the central government tell them to do."
"And what I discovered in PNG, is that you have extremely advanced local and democratic governance. And this is the best way to take it into account the reasons and the needs of the people. Because you know the people here better than anyone in the city in Port Moresby."
His Execellency Antonio Gueterres also says his visit to Mt Hagen is to take profit and pay tribute to the local and regional democracy of PNG.
Meanwhile, Mr. Guterres was also impressed to know that the first agricultural activity in the world comes from Western Highlands and thanked the Provincial government for making agriculture as their source of revenue.