While mothers throughout PNG celebrated Mothers’ Day with joy, laughter and family get-togethers, one group of mothers were left to go without.
Nine mothers from Manus who came to participate in the floriculture show in Port Moresby from May 2 to 8 found themselves stranded.
The nine women from Lorengau and Lelemadi Bupichipeu LLGs in Manus Province have, since Mothers’ Day, been appealing for help to see them return to their island.
The mothers, who are members of the Pihi Manus Association, funded their own way to come to the capital to take part in this show. As part of their cargo they brought in eskies full of flower arrangements and plants to display at the show. It cost them K3000 in excess baggage payments.
They each paid their own airfares of about K680 each to get here to showcase their skills in the floriculture business.
Pihi Manus Association president Grace Malai, who led the delegation to the capital, however thanked organisers of the event, saying that their participation in the event was paying off with their members learning new ideas and were also acquiring new skills in the floriculture business.
“This is the fourth year we have attended the floriculture show and we are grateful for everything we have learned.”
She said floriculture was a new concept that was slowly spreading in the island province, however she said, the market was quite small. But his has not hindered her from involving the women in other self-help projects.
The association’s technical officer, Brigette Pahun is a confident and well-spoken young woman who is passionate in moving the association forward with many projects and programs all planned.
However, for now she is seeking help to get her group back to Manus.
“I have made phone calls but we are still waiting. I am sure those I have called will turn up to help us,” Pahun said.
“We are talking in parables that we want to send our eskies back to Manus, but I hope that someone out there will see what we are trying to say and come to our aid,” Pahun said.
She said it would cost about K7000 to get all nine mothers back to Manus. However, all these mothers are also doing their own appeals to raise their fares to travel back to the island.
Pahun can be contacted on 7048 4628 and Malai on 7384 0790.