Cultural Ministers from the 28 participating Pacific Island nations attending the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in Hawaii, USA, held a minute’s silence in tribute to the land slip victims in the Porgera district of Enga province today (Tuesday 4 June 2024).

The ministers shared their sympathy for the thousands of Papua New Guineans who lost their lives in the landslide.

They also expressed serious concern for the people of New Caledonia because of the outbreak of violence that could challenge France’s control in the Pacific.

Representing Papua New Guinea at the cultural ministers’ 7th meeting at the Hawaii Convention Centre in Honolulu was Mr. Steven Enomb Kilanda, the Executive Director of the National Cultural Commission and Head of the PNG delegation to Hawaii, along with Prof. Leo Marai, the Deputy Chairman of the NCC board.

Prof. Marai, also serving as the Executive Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea, expressed gratitude to the Pacific leaders for their recognition. He clarified the absence of Papua New Guinea’s cultural minister due to a pending vote of no confidence in the country. Additionally, he provided details to the meeting regarding the number of delegates from PNG and the diverse regions they represented at the festival.