In connection with the new airport in Ilulissat a celebratory dinner was held on Thursday evening in the city’s sports hall. The evening featured a number of speakers, and among them was Inatsisartut’s chairman, Kim Kielsen.
– Congratulations, Greenland. A new entrance to our country is opening, says Kim Kielsen.
In connection with the new airport in Ilulissat a celebratory dinner was held on Thursday evening in the city’s sports hall. The evening featured a number of speakers, and among them was Inatsisartut’s chairman, Kim Kielsen.
– Congratulations, Greenland. A new entrance to our country is opening, says Kim Kielsen.
As chairman of naalakkersuisut, in 2018 he spearheaded the inatsisartut law on the construction of airports in Nuuk, Ilulissat and Qaqortoq. The law was approved on 15 November 2018 in Inatsisartut by the then coalition consisting of Siumut, Nunatta Qitornai and Atassut and the supporting party Demokraatit. The majority in Inuit Ataqatigiit, the Cooperation Party and Naleraq did not approve it at the time. Two members from Inuit Ataqatigiit voted blankly.
– The majority made the decision because they believed in our future. Many thanks! says Kielsen to the dinner guests.
Kielsen: I planned together with Thomsen
Kim Kielsen said in his speech that the plans to build the airport in Ilulissat were drawn up in one of the city’s hotels.
– One of my friends was also just mentioned. He’s not here. Niisi. Niels Thomsen.
– Together with Niels Thomsen (chairman of Demokraatit at the time, ed.) we drew up the plan for the future airports at Hotel Arctic. We sat in the basement. We discussed our vision for how North Greenland should be developed, recalls Kim Kielsen in his speech.
He doesn’t want the young people to just hang out
Kim Kielsen spoke for about seven minutes. In the majority of the speech, he spoke repeatedly about the youth and the future. He wants the new airport to be used well and managed by locals.
– As elected representatives and parents, we have given you the tools. You must use them well in the development, and you must be at the forefront of it. You must not end up like us who have at times been mere spectators. It shouldn’t be like that. You have an obligation to carry out the task.
– You can’t just hang out. We must take action and contribute.
The chairman of Inatsisartut wants a development where there is room for everyone. But he does not want the development to be characterized by an eternal placing of blame on others. Although he emphasizes that the locals must take the lead, he also says that cooperation cannot be avoided.
– Regardless of skin color, we must lift up together and contribute with support in accordance with our duty as a society. This is not the time for forces to collide. We cannot stand alone here, we must strengthen ourselves through cooperation, says Kim Kielsen.
