A voice for the voiceless

BY ANCILLA WRAKUALE - Post Courier

Dealing with sorcery related violence in a place like Papua New Guinea is very challenging and risky and it’s not for the fainted hearts.

Sorcery is a dark space of its own in most places in PNG and not many people are brave enough to stand up to seek justice for the vulnerable and voiceless that continue to fall victims to sorcery accusation related violence (SARV). Sorcery related violence in PNG is a very complex issue because it doesn’t concern just an individual but a tribe and community as a whole.

Some weeks back leading to the Christmas period last year, I was privileged enough to chat with one of a strong advocate against sorcery related violence in PNG.

Let me introduce you to Ruth Julie Kissam. They say a strong woman stands up for herself but a stronger woman stands up for everyone else and that is exactly how I would describe Ruth’s courageous spirit.

Ruth, who turned 39 last November, likes to think that she is from Papua New Guinea and not just Enga where her parents originated from. She said the electoral and regional boundaries are just boundaries set up by people but this nation is an amazing mixture of cultures and people and she feels she’s every one of them.

They say a strong woman stands up for herself but a stronger woman stands up for everyone

She was born in Mt Hagen in Western Highlands Province and brought up mostly in rural areas especially in the Highlands region where her late dad was a dedicated pastor with the Assemblies of God (AOG) Church until his peaceful passing in 2018.

After completing her secondary education in Mt Hagen, Ruth was selected to study Law at the University of Papua New Guinea but just half way through her studies; she did a selfless thing by shelving her studies to take care of her three younger brothers after her mother became ill.
Ruth comes from a family of seven and she is the 4th born in the family. Her greatest inspiration in her work comes from her late father who has taught her all she needed about how to live and lead her life and most importantly helping others first.

Ruth is currently working as the Operations Director with Tribal Foundation- a not for profit organisation that works in the areas of education, gender based discrimination and violence and health.

Ruth was the lady that claimed the body of the late Leniata Kepari and buried her in Mt Hagen when no one else could after the body was in the morgue for several months in 2013.

She said she’s always been passionate about people and she believes that everyone deserves a fair chance in life and are special in their own ways.

She said her biggest inspiration in life comes from her late father. She said her father was her sole motivator and never discourages her from doing anything that she can. My dad always tells me that I am no different to my brothers and I can be anything I want. “I like the way he approaches things” she recalled the fond childhood memories, wearing a big smile on her face.

If there’s a conflict or trouble somewhere and I’m going out to assist, he wouldn’t stop me. Instead he would tell me to be careful on the road, ensure I have spare tyres and enough fuel for the trip.

The 39 year old said her only wish for women and girls in PNG is for them to have a safe place to walk around freely. “I hate the fact that I have to always look over my shoulder when going out and I don’t want to do that. “I wish for a place where our women and girls can just be themselves. I wish for a country where our girls can be themselves, fearless and see the world as their oyster”, she said.
In recognition of all her efforts in working in the dark space of sorcery related violence in PNG, Ruth was nominated for the Trukai Community Award for the 2017 Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) award. Ruth’s nomination came out as the successful recipient of the Trukai Community Award. On the night of the Awards, Ruth was surprisingly named as the overall winner of the 2017 WOW awards.
“There were two things about that award that stood out for me. “The feeling was surreal…it was just unbelievable”, she recalled. It was unbelievable not because I won the overall WOW awards. It was unbelievable because for the first time corporate houses through the WOW awards actually recognised the work that we do in the dark space of sorcery. The win was not for me as Ruth Kissam. It was a win for all the human right defenders she said.

She also acknowledged Trukai Industries Ltd for sponsoring the category award of Community Awards where she was the final winner. Trukai Industries Ltd was one of the founding sponsors of this initiative initiated by Westpac since its inception 11 years in 2008 investing almost K400, 000 so far.

The company also donate K10, 000 on top of its normal sponsorship to the winner’s preferred charity of choice each year to help those charities and community based organisations progress the great work that they are already doing in the community.

Last year, Ruth received her K10, 000 donation from Trukai and she donated the money to three different NGOs to help them progress their respective goals and objectives in the areas of health and education.

She acknowledged Trukai Industries Ltd for the support including all other corporate sponsors for supporting this great platform where women are recognised for their efforts and commitment towards developing PNG in their various capacities in their own communities.

Go to this link for more:https://postcourier.com.pg/weekender-2/

Raylance scoops overall WOW Award

BY MELISHA YAFOI - Post Courier

Twenty-four year old Raylance Mesa from Tami Island in Morobe is the proud overall winner for the Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) Awards 2019.
Miss Mesa took out the IBBM young achievers award as well as the overall winner for her contributions towards development and climate change mitigation.
Raylance initiated the rebuilding of Tami Island Primary School sea wall, improving infrastructure and building teachers’ houses, and is educating people on the island about the impacts of a changing climate.
In 2018 she was recognised for the work with the United Nations Seventh Day Youth Development Award, and in 2017 the Commonwealth Youth for Excellence in Community Development.
She was among six other winners for categories including ExxonMobil PNG LNG Public Sector Award winner Betty Jacobs, Moore Printing Sports Award winner Margaret Aka, PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector award winner Hillary Turnamur, SP Brewery Entreprenuer Award winner Vani K Nades, Steamships Not for Profit award winner Petra Arifeae and the winner for the Trukai Community award Freda K Yakio.
There were 21 finalists for these seven categories.
“Standing here, it’s an honor and a great privilege for me, it’s only me, I am representing thousands of people back home and I am grateful for this opportunity and it will go along way for me, not only for me but for the people that I represent,”she said.
“I started when I was 16 years old, looking back it was quite a real journey seeing people’s lives improve and having to have the opportunity to represent these less fortunate, it’s quite an extra ordinary journey for me as well.
“A challenge or a situation wouldn’t be successfully achieved if that doesn’t have other views to it, it will work when we consider both men and women so it’s like a partnership that we should build in our societies so if we want to see things change, then we all have to work together to achieve these things,” she said.

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/raylance-scoops-overall-wow-award-2019/

Digicel Welcomes New Head of HR

Posted by Post Courier

Commitment, dedication, learning and kindness are all words that describe Helen Gegeyo, the new head of human resources at Digicel Papua New Guinea.
Digicel PNG CEO Oliver Coughlan said with an ever expanding workforce of skilled team members, it was positive to see longer term team members progressing and transitioning through the ranks to achieve new roles and senior management positions.
“Helen Gegeyo is a wonderful example of what can be achieved with hard work, dedication and commitment to an organisation,” he said,
“She has over 10 years of service with Digicel and is being rewarded with her appointment as the Head of human resources. Helen has earned this position with continued career development and ambition to achieve.
“Her passion is not only career related. She is a mother of two children, a loving wife and enjoys her personal time to achieve a positive work and lifestyle balance while enjoying her books
and music.”
Mr Coughlan said Digicel is an equal opportunity organisation, with a desire for diversity throughout the company.
“It is important to have diversity, as this brings real advantages to productivity and performance on a
daily basis.
“Plus it adds to the think tank mentality to deliver new ideas and outcomes for our customers and internal organisational development.”
Ms Gegeyo started her career with Digicel 10 years ago, as a customer care call centre agent.
She was identified as a person of talent, and quickly progressed to customer care support manager.
She is from Northern Province and is now making a name for herself as a manager that everyone knows and respects.”
“When we are given the chance to grow in the professional environment it is equally important to make the most of it,” Ms Gegeyo said.
“I am grateful for this opportunity and encourage others that you must first believe in yourself to be a help, an inspiration and an example to others.
“And appreciate those who help you along.
“If we are not given the chance to expand or build from, we must create the opportunity for ourselves.”

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/digicel-welcomes-new-head-hr/

Doing What You Can Really Does Matter

BY MELISHA YAFOI-Post Courier

At the age of 16, Raylance Mesa knew what she needed to do to help her people back home in the beautiful Island of Tami, Morobe Province.
She was just a simple high school student attending Lae Secondary School but had a heart of gold for her people.
The Post-Courier had a chance to talk to Raylance and her proud dad Mr Mesa after she won the IBBM Young entrepreneur and the overall Westpac Outstanding Women award for 2019.
When asked about what inspired her to do what she did, the now 24-year-old proudly told the paper that her trips to her village every school holidays enabled her to see and understand the problems and challenges hundreds of people on the island face on a day to day basis.
She said the two main things were the awareness on climate change and education.
Ms Mesa said because she was fortunate to be given an education in town (Lae), it enabled her to realise the imbalance that is happening in societies across the country and opened her eyes to see the needs of her people back in Tami.
“That was the drive that inspired me.
“I really wanted to help my people I want to at least get something to them that you know at least it’s something similar to the opportunities that I have,” Raylance said.
She said it all started with awareness, basically sharing everything that she had learnt in school with those in the village and to her amazement, the people were very eager to listen and learn about the things she was telling them.
“I keep telling them that we can’t wait for the government to wait for things to come to us, we have to do something so that’s when it all started.
“I started carrying out awareness with a couple of friends, with my mum, brothers and my dad and they’ve been always supportive in what I was doing,” she said.
Soon enough that awareness spiked up some interest among the community leaders who wanted to do something about the effects of climate change on the island.
Raylance said the community leaders, after being educated on the impacts of climate change, wanted to do more so they started consulting her on ideas or things that they could do to help the community.
She said after consultations and discussions and with her guidance as the architect of the project, they went and mobilised the community to begin work on the island.
“Basically we try to look at the problems that are on the island like climate change which they were not aware of, so I created talks and awareness to educate the people and eventually my uncles helped me to talk to the people,” she said.
“We educated the people and with their willingness we built sea walls out of dead coral reefs and coconut trunks.
“The young men in the village were really eager to do something for the community and it was quite an achievement for them as well,” she said.
Apart from this small but significant project, the drive to do more began to grow and that led her to help with the renovation and building of classrooms for the Tami Island Primary school.
She said it was indeed a sad scenario because in 2013 the school was still serving as a community school with only two teachers including the head master, the oldest student was a 25-year-old doing grade five.
“At this age you could already be in college or working so that also indicated that there was really a problem,
she said.
“So people started building classrooms, they renovated the guest house and use whatever they could find on the island. Eventually, they upgraded the school from a community school to a primary school.
They now have grade eights and they bought a laptop, printer and a generator to start off. We have come a long way and we now have desk for students and eight teachers for each grade so it’s quite a good number now, before there were only two.”
Raylance said the small work that she did with the help of friends, family and community members has exposed her to many organisations that get to recognise what she did.
“They wanted to lend a hand to help with the projects that I do and we even have Australian companies like Sago studios who wanted to do awareness and bring something to the island.
“They even visit the island as well to see what was going on,” she said.
Raylance said there’s a quite a lot still to do but she is picking up one thing at a time so that she can identify what’s important that the people would need urgently and then what can be done later on.
“My encouragement would be all of us are talented and gifted in different ways, probably I am good with what I do in architecture and I help communities with infrastructure and all that.
“But one of our fellow ladies could be interested in nursing or something or you could at least lend a hand, just a little thing it would go a long way for people,” she said.
When the paper asked her dad Mr Mesa about his daughter’s achievement, he was speechless with pride at how much his daughter has achieved.
He said when Raylance first approached him with this idea, his only advice was go for it and I will give you the support that you need.
“I am so proud, I am speechless.
“Because at the end of the day she is helping my people back home,” Mr Mesa said.
Raylance will be graduating next month at the University of Technology with a Bachelor in Architect.
She is currently completing her graduate program with ExxonMobil PNG.

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/can-really-matter/

Enga celebrates history at show

By PETER S. KINJAP- The National

WE can safely say there is enough evidence to suggest that thousands of years ago during the last Pleistocene Age Papua New Guineans crossed over on land bridges from Indochina.
People have been living on the island of New Guinea for more than 25,000 years.
When Enga’s son and prolific writer Daniel Kumbon stopped at the display of Engan artefacts on display at the African American Cultural Centre in Dayton, Ohio, United States, he was camouflaged amongst black Americans with the words.
He told an audience, “Like some of you, we too are black. Like you, our roots are rich and deep. We are your distant cousins, sharing a common African heritage but now scattered in different parts of the world.”
“Maybe black Americans have appreciated the display more than others,” Dr Paul Brennan, the American anthropologist who started the Enga Cultural Centre, said seeing Daniel’s love and admiration of his culture on his face.
“One little girl asked me if Engans saw themselves as black people. I thought that was provoking. I told her, Engans are black,” Kumbon wrote in one of his articles.
On the display, there were the rattling seeds the Engans used to contact the spirit world and the Yupin figure, which, according to Kumbon, many thought it never existed. Dr Brennan had saved these precious items from destruction by missionaries.
His collection was probably the largest from the Central Highlands of Papua New Guinea to be found anywhere in America or Europe, if not second to British anthropologist Professor Marilyn Strutharn’s collection of Western Highlands items at the Cambridge University museum.
Engans saw danger everywhere, Dr Brennah was telling people – in fast flowing rivers, the rugged terrain, ancestral spirits and much else – but the real enemies were the people who lived on the other side of the ridge or the river.
A clan had to defend itself when pigs were stolen, insults were shouted, boundaries were disputed and, especially, when blood was shed.
The main function of Enga warfare was to ensure the territorial integrity of the clan and to enhance its prestige.
But in the midst of much change, many Engans did not seem interested in fighting. Even as Dr Brennan lived in Enga (1968-77), the transition from stone to steel had been rapid. And most people preferred Christianity ahead of traditional warfare.
Above all they wanted recognition as people of a growing country with rich culture, with their very own culture – and they appreciated the recognition of black people from other parts of the world.
The American anthropologist started the Enga Cultural Show as a display for living culture in Enga. Then on Engans and tribes from nearby highlands provinces proudly display their identify year after year.
Set amidst one of the most stunning natural landscapes and showcasing a rich cultural heritage, the Enga Cultural Show is held in August each year.
The event highlights a traditional culture that is still largely intact, with a festival drawcard being the Sili Muli dancers with their iconic black painted faces and unique headdress.
Enga is renowned as the only province in Papua New Guinea where the people speak the same language, and the festival is designed to showcase and preserve the special cultural history.
It’s the highlight of the annual calendar for the province – the event offers three days of unique culture, heritage and performances from the communities living in the five districts. It also showcases the rare orchid Dendrobium Engae, which is only found in Enga.
Globalisation and Western influence put Enga at risk of losing its rich cultural heritage.
But the Engans recognise the importance of preserving their unique traditional culture. The enthusiasm demonstrated by the Engans and show participants each year at Wabag town showground says it all.
The dedication and efforts by the Enga show committee indicates their aim to maintain Enga culture gives hope that it will remain alive for future generations.
Engan people adore their culture as hundreds of people with elaborate headdresses and bodies painted in rich earthy colours take to the showground during the event. Performers would sing and dance in unison, with long feathers swaying to the rhythmic thumping of the kundu drums. This contagious sound is the background music for the Enga Cultural Show.
The famous Suli Muli dancers perform in fierce-looking painted faces and giant round hats made of moss, plant fibre or even their own hair, similar to Huli wigmen from Hela. Forming an aesthetic spear line they would jump up and down in unison to the beat of their kundu drums and singing suli muli.
Apart from cultural dances, traditional salt making is another trademark of Enga. The salt, locally produced from a specific tree, was used as an important trade item between provinces and used in bride price ceremonies.
They leave tree logs in a salt lake for several weeks so that the salt is dissolved in the wood. They then dry and burn the wood, and take strain the salt from the ashes.
Traditional salt makers at the showground demonstrate how it is made and usually give out bunches of salt wrapped in leaves and attached to a wooden sticks.
If you happen to attend one the Engan Show, you would drive home with not only a gift of traditional salt but also with a sense that tribal identity is still a strong source of pride for many?Papua New Guineans.
There is a golden reason why you find the exotic Enga Show with Sili Muli girls the focal point on a weekend prior to the Mount Hagen Cultural Show. Enga, for those who don’t know, was once part of the Western Highlands.
In 2019, the Enga Show will be held on 10-12 in Wabag town. Air Niugini and PNG Air offer direct weekly flights to Wapenamanda airport located about 45 minutes from Wabag town.
There is limited number of accommodation options in Wabag. In terms of price-quality, Wabag Lodge is the best option. Others include Wildlife Lodge located in Wabag town and away from town, a favourite among birdwatchers is the Kumul Lodge built on the slopes of the Mount Hagen Range in the midst of a forest.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/enga-celebrates-history-at-show/

Landowners welcome Muruk 1 discovery

Posted on Post Courier

Landowners from Hela province have welcomed the announcements by energy firms-ExxonMobil and Oil Search pertaining to the Muruk 1 discovery in Hela.
Hupi group chairman and team leader Tibawi Longai and chairman Hupi Pari Incorporated Land Group (ILG) assert that they are the principal landowners of the Muruk 1 well heads and a large portion of Petroleum Prospecting License 402 (PPL 402).
In a statement the leaders said: “On behalf of the Hupi Pari ILG and its 15 Hupi Tribe, Clans and Sub-Clans we take this opportunity to thank ExxonMobil and Oil Search for the announcement of this discovery for the drilling and side track activities at PPL 402, that have led to this discovery.
“Indeed it’s a blessing in disguise for our landowning group which has been struggling for the past 20 years.
“We have learnt a lot from the mountains of experience from both the oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project footprints and the same mistakes must not be repeated especially when dealing with the landowners and benefits owed to them,”Mr Tibawi said.
While it early days yet, the landowners stated that a stance had been taken and that they would be pushing for new negotiations and agreements.
“We are prepared to work with the developers and the government at an appropriate time and forum after all the drilling activities and appraisal formalities are completed, Mr Tibawi said.
They called for a united voice among all the other clans and groups impacted by PPL 402 to work together to ensure a fair and maximum return to landowners.

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/landowners-welcome-muruk-1-discovery/

Signed, Sealed And Delivered

 BY ISAAC NICHOLAS - Post Courier

MINISTER for Petroleum Dr Fabian Pok has signed the ministerial determination that paves the way for landowners of the PNG LNG project of Hela to receive their benefits from the gas after 10 years of waiting.

The signing at the project areas of PDL1 and PDL7 on Saturday was the first time that a minister had gone down to the project areas to sign the determination that was witnessed by thousands of landowners.

Dr Pok told the people of PDL7 at Para Primary School and PDL1 at Yuni that the ministerial determination would be gazetted today and landowners have 28 days after the gazettal to air their grievances and those that missed out could put forward their case to be included.

He appealed to leaders to use the 28-days to sort out any issues and not to go to court as this will only delay the process for another 10 years.

“I will write to the Chief Justice to have all land issues transferred to Tari so the ‘paper landowners’ must come to Tari and prove where their mountain and kaukau garden are in front of your people.

“I will make sure that those who do not go to court get the share of benefits. Those leaders who go to court will explain to your people why your money is locked up until the court clears your issues,” Dr Pok said.

He was accompanied by Minister for Migration and Border Security and Koroba-Kopiago MP Petrus Thomas, Hela Governor Philip Undialu, Komo-Margarima MP Manaseh Makiba, Lagaip-Porgera MP Tomait Kapili, Komo LLG president Thomas Potape, landowner leaders Larry Andagali, Libe Parindali, Lemson Mapiria and acting Petroleum Secretary Lohial Nuau.

Dr Pok thanked the leaders for putting aside their differences to unite to make the clan vetting exercise a success and he would make sure that at least 50 per cent of their royalty and equity benefits were released immediately.

He said the cost of the clan vetting was K500,000 for three weeks of the exercise to be completed.

Dr Pok said after the 28 days, the Mineral Resource Development Company would be on the ground to open individual bank accounts and the cash component would be deposited into individual bank accounts.

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/signed-sealed-delivered/

New Barracks Set for Hela

Posted on The National

A new military barracks will be built to cater for the 10,000 personnel increase and to strengthen internal security in the Highlands.
Defence Minister Solan Mirisim announced on Friday during the Tari Airport construction launch that the new barracks would be built in Homa, Hela.
Commander Gilbert Toropo confirmed the decision to build more barracks to strengthen internal security and also provide security for the LNG project.
He said the project, if schools and health centres included, would cost around K500 million to K600 million.
“However, the National Executive Council approved K300 million for this exercise which will be paid in instalments,” Toropo said.
The Infantry Battalion Barracks would be built in Hela and the Engineering Battalion Barracks will be built in Southern Highlands.
He said it was a cost cutting measure as they have been sending Defence platoons in the Highlands and because there was no barracks, they have spent a lot of money on logistics alone.
Toropo said construction work for both barracks started with K35 million allocated in this year’s budget.
“Due to the World War 2 most of the country’s barracks were placed at maritime strategic places to defend the country from being invaded,” he said.
“And there was high security risk in the coastal parts of the country so the barracks were built in those areas.”
Toropo said with the ongoing law and order issues in Enga, Southern Highlands and Hela with gun and drugs trading along the borders of Southern Highlands, Gulf and Western, they decided to build the two new military barracks in the region.
Toropo said the plan also fall in line with PNGDF’s target of increasing manpower to 10,000 by 2022.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/new-barracks-set-for-hela/

Project launch set to see Hela, SHP light up

By JEFFREY ELAPA - The National 

THE people of Hela and Southern Highlands will be supplied electricity from the Hide gas power plant – 25 years after the project began.
Managing director of the Kumul Petroleum Holding Limited Wapu Sonk said during the launching of the Wabia substation in the Hulia local level government last Friday it was time to give something back to the resource owners.
He said the company in partnership with PNG Power would supply electricity to homes in Hela and Southern Highlands in appreciation for the people’s contribution to nation building when they supplied oil and gas from their land. KPHL will fund the project for K67 million.
The high voltage power lines will run from Mt Hagen to Mendi, then from Mendi to Tari, Tari to Alimbu junction and then to Hides. Another will run from Alimbu to Koroba on high transmitter pylons while the low power voltage will connect to families from Nipa to Tari.
Another loop will run from Mendi to Kandep, then to Magarima and to the main Mendi-Tari main high voltage power supply. There will also a loop for Ialibu-Kagua and Pangia.
PNG Power managing director Carolyn Blacklock who was dressed in Huli spoke in Huli.
Sonk said electricity was important for human development because it could transform the lives of the people.
He said power from gas would be cheap and warned the people not to connect power illegally or steal power using illegal means.
Sonk handed over a vehicle to police to monitor the project.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/project-launch-set-to-see-hela-shp-light-up/

Why are we having low cash flows in Hela?

By Rixcii H Uraii

In Agiru's time,in Herewa's time,in Aluago's time and in Tomiabe's time it was not like this. People used to rejoice and cherished with their way of life and enjoyed to the fullest. At that time the budget was only k500 000 and not like k10 million kina like today.

The question is,why are we facing short falls with that abundant budget when the previous leaders can make use of that little amount to chatter for every households without favour despite of political rivals. Those leaders work for peace and good order of people. They executed the development contracts not only to their cronies but to those who bid the offer through merits.

In this case,the local contractors from the various parts of the electorate are awarded to developed their own place and they inturned employ the surrounding youths to work as a labour so they too can supply for their households.

But now we can see that those who are in power are heavily investing millions of kina in one particular private contractor who win the contract not by bid but through political cronies.

Those who supported them in their campaign were awarded projects the likes of Moses palipe and to Timon Awari rather than disturbing it to other hela brothers. The same thing applies to our good administrator Mr William Bando. He also write out cheques to the one who he favour rather than doing it for the good of hela.

We cannot do anything at this movement.
Time only will tell.

Kumul Petroleum Ltd Funds K67million for Hi-Tech 132kv Power Transmission for Hela and SHP.

By Ludwig Orapawa
Tari,Hela Province

The Governors Grand Chief Sir Ipatas and Hon Philip Undialu led the team of Government Mininsters Hon James Marape, Petrus Thomas, Alfred Manase, Solan Mirisi, Mp Manase Makiba and high profile Government Officials CEOs Wapu Sonk of KPL and Carolin Blacklock of PNGPL and PNGPL Chairman Peter Nupiri and Finance Secretary Dr Ken Nangan to the Official Launching of the 132KV Transmission -High Voltage Electricity at the step-down Substations for Hela Province at Wabia Village, Hulia LLG in Komo Magarima Electorate.

The funder of the Project - Kumul Petroleum Limited Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wapu Sonk said after more than 25 years of LNG Power Generation Operations, Hela and SHP have missed miserably from receiving electricity from their own gas fields. He complimented the Prime Minister and his Government for the approval of k67million for the first phase of the project.

He said the project value of more than k100 million will cover the length and width of Hela Province and run through the rural LLGs in Nipa Kutubu, Mendi Munihu, Ialibu Pangia and Kagua Erave Districts. Mr Sonk said his organization will stand closely to support the impact project; nevertheless, he told the people to work closely and refrain from unnecessary demands and claims and holdups which will delay the project.

He also donated a vehicle to the Highway 21 Traffic Unit to support and attend issues pertaining the project in Hela Province. He said the project will be implementated according to the design and scope of work of PNGPL by TeBIAN Electric Apparatus (TBEA) Limited ;and PNGPL to make sure quality and PNGPL approved equipment and supplies are used by the Contractor.

Look after airport: MP

By REBECCA KUKU- The National

Civil Aviation Minister Alfred Manasseh has called on the people of Hela to take ownership of the Tari Wigman Airport and look after it.
He made the call during the ground breaking ceremony for the construction work to the K70 million Tari Airport (Wigman) on Friday.
Manasseh said it would be named the Tari Wigman Airport.
He said for too long the people of Hela have been travelling to Mt Hagen to access airport services.
“Sometimes it takes more than eight hours to get to Mt Hagen, we go on unsealed roads facing the risks of been in a car accident or been held up by highway robbers,” he said.
“We will have our own airport and we must be thankful and appreciate and look after it.”
Manase said since becoming a province, they have been through a lot of tribal fighting, a lot of law and order issues and the recent earthquake that took many lives and destroyed infrastructure and homes.
“But today, we have all united to stand together and witness the ground breaking ceremony for the start of the construction of the Tari Airport,” he said.
Governor Philip Undialu said the airport construction was one of the many developments for Hela.
The airport when completed would serve people from the province and parts of Enga and Southern Highlands.
The K70 million project is counter funded by the National Government and the Asian Development Bank.