Blue Ribbon campaign remembers lives lost at sea [1]
Sunday, August 16, 2009 - 20:48. Updated on Thursday, August 6, 2015 - 13:17.
A Blue Ribbon campaign in solidarity of the lives lost at sea was launched on August 14 in an emotional ceremony held outside the Shipping Corporation Office at Queen Salote Wharf, where many families have been camping outside in tents for days waiting on news of loved ones who were passengers on board the sunken ferry MV Princess Ashika.
Launched by the Tonga National Centre of Women Children, general manager 'Ofa Likiliki, said the initiative came about when news confirmed that none of the women and children on board had survived the disaster.
On Friday morning, 'Ofa and TNCWC staff presented blue ribbons to grief-stricken families at Queen Salote Wharf, Many were clinging on to pictures of loved ones, while some pictures were stuck on a small noticeboard in the tents.
"We had also distributed up to 10,000 blue ribbons to schools, government ministries and businesses throughout Tonga," 'Ofa said.
"The colour blue is based on the ocean where many of our families and loved ones are resting. Beginning next year, the Centre will mark August 6 as the Blue Ribbon Day campaign, to remember the lives lost at sea in this terrible tragedy," she said.
Amongst the families who were grieving lost members was the family of the two lost sisters Lima and Mele 'Alimoni including their grandmother Pilisita (83), Aunty Ifanoa.
Also attending was Metelini 'Aho whose 29-year-old brother Sione Matoni 'Aho of Fasi mo e Afi remains missing at sea.
Families, who were clinging onto a hope that bodies might be still be recovered, intended to remain camping at the shipping office for the time being.