THE Member of Parliament in West New Georgia where Munda international airport is located, Silas Vaqara Tausinga has joined rest of the leaders who spoke on Tuesday 10th, not least is Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, as they welcomed a new milestone – opening of new terminal and the refurbished runway.
The MP who was not given a chance by the local organizing Committee to speak on behalf as the current MP for Munda later expressed his gratitude to journalists as the MP for Munda and a direct descendent of one of the signatories of the 1958 Deed of Gift, Obed Bisili , and recalled that this very kind gesture from the five original Kazukuru landowners had to be made after wider consultations between elders from Saikile to Patu parao in Rarumana in respect of the British Government quests for the reopening of airstrips built over world war two.
The movement to secure the small piece traditional land for national use as needed at that time swiftly concluded for the five key tribesmen and landowners then quickly signed what has now been referred to as the DEED of GIFT. Munda runway then was a full fledge runway in the early sixties, taking international flights from Papua New Guinea until civil war broke out in Bougainville in late eighties.
The five signatories in the DEED of GIFT include Jacob Zinihite, Milton Talasasa, Dannie Bea, Obed Bisili and Willie Paia.They represent the original land owners in modern day terms. It was them who sowed the seed for development. “It was the foresight of these gentlemen, poor though they may be those days who did the very initial task to prepare the Kazukuru descendent in Roviana and Munda.
Mr Tausinga thanked everyone who was present , and this include the Guest of Honor Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Mannaseh Sogavare, dignitaries from the office of the Prime minister, Honorable Ministers, Honorable Minister for Ministry of Aviation Mr. Peter Shantel, Honorable Minister for West New Georgia/Vonavona constituency, Premier of the W/Province Mr. Billy Veo and his executives, World Bank Country Representative Ms. Anneth Leith, Munda terminal contractors, Community leaders, Churches; The people of Kazukuru. Roviana and Munda.
“My Gratitude and thanks to the Sogavare lead Government who have come this far in setting another major milestone and to make history Solomon Islands, The western Province and its people and the Kazukuru people. I would also like to thank the World Bank for their support(Funding) rendered to complete this undertaking. You are very generous. To all the citizens, contractors and the ordinary people that have involved in completing this undertaking. Thank you very much. To all the dignitaries that I have mentioned, I can’t thank you enough for your hard work and persistence to achieve this greatness.”
Mr Tausina said this is not the end the Kazukuru story and country.
BY Freelance journalist Brian Beti
