The Pacific Games baton, after being touched by thousands of hands in village and town around the nation, finally found its way to the National Parliament this morning.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill ritually received the baton and made his way through the corridors of Parliament to meet Oil Search executive Gerea Aopi on the steps of the building, under the historic words from the Constitution annals.
There, he handed the baton to the tall former rules footballer and field athlete, Mr Aopi, who jogged down the winding road to the gates of the Parliament area.
He handed over the baton to NCD Governor Powes Parkop, who was dressed for the occasion in T-shirt, shorts and running shoes.
That completed the brief episode with the nation’s VIPs and then the baton was passed to other hands to travel around the suburbs of Port Moresby.
