Minister for Treasury and Member for Aitape-Lumi, Patrick Pruaitch, officially opened the second Sumkar District Games Tournament yesterday at Kinim Station, Karkar Island.
Minister Pruaitch says the government is focusing on developing youths and one way is to get them involved in sporting activities.
“The government is focusing on building tomorrow’s generation and keeping them fit to take the nation forward,” stresses Pruaitch.
“The government is cutting K10 million each year to districts, which gives a total of K50 million in five years for the districts to use to develop and also allocate funding for such sporting activities.”
Minister Pruaitch challenged the people to take ownership of the development problems they have and make wise decisions to change and move forward.
“Sports is one of the avenue where youths come together not only to play but to meet and know each other, and share ideas that will create change and help them move forward in life,” the Minister states.
“The government is keen and ready to promote sporting activities that will bring people together and take responsibility of the development agendas in the community, LLG, district and province as a whole.”
Meanwhile, Member for Angoram Salio Waipo thanked the teams, singsing group and the people of Sumkar for gathering in the district headquarters to take part in the tournament.
There is never a loser in sports as it brings people together.
“It is also a place that we can get involved in spiritual and social activities that will enable us to grow,” Waipo said.
Pruaitch was accompanied Waipo, former Madang governor Sir Arnold Amet, former member for Middle-Ramu Ben Semri, National Alliance Party (NA) Secretary Joyce Grants and Karkar LLG president Ben Naing.