IPNGS NEW FACILITIES DEDICATED TO CULTURAL PRESERVATION

CAPTION: Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, Hon. Belden Namah officially opened the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies facility in Boroko

BY LETHISA KOLOKOL

THE doors of the new facilities at the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies in Boroko were officially opened by the Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, Hon. Belden Namah yesterday.

IPNGS is an institution under the National Cultural Commission (NCC) dedicated to research, documenting, preserving, and promoting the diverse cultural heritage of Papua New Guinea.

The new office space and the conference rooms doors were opened by Minster Namah, along with NCC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Steven Kilanda, NCC Deputy Board Chairman, Professor Leo Marai, Board Member, Mrs Janet Sios along with members of foreign delegates in PNG.

Before the official opening, IPNGS Acting Director and Senior Ethnomusicologist Professor Dr. Don Niles gave a brief history of the institution saying, the institute was over a century old and existed before PNG gained independence. It is home to PNG’s oldest audio recordings, some dating back to 1904.

Mr Kilanda explained that the facility took three years to renovate, funded under the Public Investment Program (PIP).

He also indicated that the poor conditions of the research facility before it was renovated, adding that illegal occupants were occupying the building but with the help of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, they were able to get these illegal occupants out of the building.

NCC Deputy Board Chairman, Professor Leo Marai said the main focus going forward is to maintain the facility and the work of preserving the world’s most diverse cultures.