Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat has personally handed over 100,000 VT in cash to Margaret Kuras, who won a gold medal at the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games.
Kuras ran a 21-kilometre distance wearing only socks, clocking a one (1) hour, 29 minutes and 55 seconds timing at the Apia waterfront, 15 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.
In a hand over ceremony Tuesday, Napuat expressed his sincere gratitude on behalf of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Vanuatu's female athletics coach, the former gold medallist Marie Estelle Kapalu and Kuras for her outstanding achievement at the 2019 Pacific Games.
He said “This is a success story in the Ministry of Internal Affairs with its flagship decentralisation programme. Margaret comes from a very remote part of Tanna with unimaginable challenges in accessing government services."
Minister Napuat said the essence of the decentralisation programme is to give people in the rural parts of Vanuatu access to government services he said, “Margaret’s story serves as a reminder to the government of the people of Vanuatu to value its people regardless of where they come from. The government must value each Vanuatu citizen’s talents and their ability to contribute to the nation’s development."
Kuras who hails from the volcanic island of Tanna also won Silver medal at the Pacific Games womens 10,000 Meter race.
She was discovered at Vanuatu’s 12th National Games this year 2019 in Tanna.
As a show of appreciation to her dedication, the Minister has also personally handed 20,000 VT in cash to the current Vanuatu’s female athletics coach Kapalu.
Photo supplied