STATE DINNER TO HONOUR FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER AND THE BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN PNG AND FIJI
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape hosted Fijian Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka in a state dinner at the Parliament House last night. The dinner was attended by Ministers of State and Governors and turned out to be a warm and very personal affair befitting the long historical and Melanesian ties between the two nations.
Our NCD Governor, Hon. Powes Parkop, accompanied by City Manager Ravu Frank, were in attendance at the state dinner to support Prime Minister Marape, and the NCDC Amazing Port Moresby provided traditional dancers and escorts, adding colour and traditional flavour to the event.
In their speeches, the two Prime Ministers spoke fondly of the relationship between PNG and Fiji. Marape hailed Rabuka as no ordinary Prime Minister, not just a Leader of Fiji, but a senior leader in the Pacific, a Melanesian brother, and a friend and family to PNG.
The Prime Minister of PNG said that during these challenging times facing the Pacific Islands, especially the economic downturn, he welcomes the presence and experienced voice of Rabuka in the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit, being a man who has seen many years of change.
Marape was greatly moved by how the Fijian Prime Minister respected the PNG Governor General and sat on the floor before him to greet him earlier that day. Marape said, “Only a great man respects another in that manner.”
Marape concluded that in the coming days, the two nations will continue to build on the positives of the past and move towards a shared future in the modern PNG and Fiji relationship. “You have a special place here and in the FIPIC conversations. There can be only one Sitiveni Rabuka, and you are here with us.”
The Fijian Prime Minister retold fondly personal encounters with late PNG Leaders Sir Pita Lus and Bernard Narokobi, expressing his deep personal ties with PNG over the years.
The occasion exemplified the profound respect between the two Melanesian nations and the rich cultural and intimate bonds shared by the brother states.