Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has congratulated Air Niugini pilot, Captain Beverly Pakii, on successfully passing her Airbus A220 training to become the first Papua New Guinean Airbus A220 captain.
The Prime Minister said Captain Pakii’s achievement is a beacon of hope for young Papua New Guineans making their way up the education ladder, especially for the young women and girls of the country.
Prime Minister Marape said Captain Pakii’s achievement as the first person in this country to qualify to fly Airbus A220 serves as encouragement to young people in this country to see that through hard work, perseverance and commitment, one can achieve one’s goals in life.
He also expressed appreciation to the Air Niugini board and management for ensuring that Air Niugini pilots are inducted into the Airbus A220 team, enhancing safety and operational standard as well as ensuring its staff are trained in modern aircraft in preparation for potential new developments in the airline.
“On behalf of the Government and the People of Papua New Guinea, I con- gratulate and commend Captain Beverly Pakii on your achievement as you continue pushing the benchmark in the aviation industry. You have become our role model for many young men and, especially women and girls in our country, to follow. I congratulate you, and your family which has undoubtedly proven to be a good support system to you, Air Niugini and all those who have stood behind you to reach this milestone both in your life and in our country’s aviation journey. Thank you very much and a job well done!,” said PM Marape.
The Prime Minister added that Ms Pakii’s milestone achievement is testament to the equal opportunities his government continues to give to both boys and girls in the country through fully subsidizing education and making scholarships available to all children across the country so no child is left behind.
Furthermore, he noted that his government has pioneered the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) scholarship program at six national schools of excellence, enabling many graduates from these schools to get an education overseas, all funded by the Marape-Rosso Government.
Prime Minister Marape highlighted that traditionally it took an entire village or tribe to take the responsibility of raising a child so it must be the same – the community must help ensure school facilities are up and running and parents are doing their job of ensuring that the children are looked after well and go to school in order to live well in life.
“The achievement of young people like Captain Pakii should serve as example that if parents give their children the best start in life, they will go a long way. Captain Pakii’s father was a pilot who was an example to his daughter, but so too can many parents be examples in whatever way to their children so that they too can be somebody. Let’s all give our children the best in order that they can go on to achieve their purpose in life,’’ said Prime Minister Marape.