BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
IT was only a brief stay at Haroro village over the weekend in Sandfly passage, Ngella Central Islands Province (CIP), but Dave Drakopoulos from Australia was impressed.
The warm welcome and hospitality by the Haroro community during the launching of the 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise blew the Aussie bloke away.
Dave who is a friend of Imperial Travel Service being part of the community launch for the 6th of July Island Cruise and the mini Pana Festival on April 14 has shared his humble gratitude towards the organising of the community and Imperial Travel Service in planning the event for July 6.
Drakopoulos who considers himself as a Solomon Islander because of his love for the country said witnessing, listening and watching the event on Saturday the 14 at Haroro was most gratifying to see how much effort and support Haroro Community gave to the launch programme organised by Ender and Atkin Rence of Imperial Travel Service.
“This comes from so much hard work organised to help promote Ngella and its villages especially at Sandfly passage to take pride in the Pana Festival to enable them to generate some sustainable income for their families,” said Dave.
“I am happy to see wonderful Doctors, UNESCO representative and Australians who were there during the launching to provide medical and humanitarian support which again is a purely voluntary manner.
“I thank Haroro Community for the efforts to help themselves. As we were most warmly welcomed, I hope the Cruise and the Pana Festival organised will be a wonderful success.
“Ngella is only an hour and a half ride by banana boat which is easy travelling, so I want to encourage everyone to come and support the wonderful people of Haroro and Ngella to make the festival a great success.
“I believe this programme will encourage other islands as Ender reminded during the launching to ‘Own the future’.”
Dave is looking forward to returning for the Pana Festival on July 6 and wishes Imperial Travel Service and Haroro community all the best.
The Pana Festival has now ringed a bell for the people of Ngella looking forward for the historical event that will be to take place.
The 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise will coincide with the Pana festival, to be presented by the local community at Haroro for the first time.
