A Ship's Name Rooted in Faith but met with controversy
MV Ialibu: A Ship's Name Rooted in Faith but met with controversy The MV Ialibu, a vessel owned by ELCPNG and operated by iroks limited, is more than just a ship. For those who don't know its story take the name as a source of controversy when it was first launched back in 2019 but for those who knew, the name always stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Lutheran missions in Papua New Guinea. Initially, the choice of "Ialibu" for a seafaring vessel raised eyebrows. After all, Ialibu is a landlocked mountain region, 2,000 meters above the waves. Whispers of political influence swirled, linking the name to a hefty government donation by then-Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, who represented the Ialibu/Pangia district. It was O'Neil who donated the 10million kina of public funds and as expected the rumors of controversy in naming the ship. But the name ialibu was more than just a political electorate. The story goes deeper, beyond whispers and controversi...