Work is to commence this month to establish a new educational institution near Southern Highlands provincial capital Mendi in honour of slain First Year University of Technology student, the late Graham Romanong.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill delivered this relieving news to relatives and tribesmen of late Graham and a very receptive crowd of over 5,000 people who gathered at Umbimi village on Monday August 1.
O’Neill made the announcement when visiting the relatives of late Graham Romanong who was brutally murdered on June 25 2016 in his room at Unitech Lae.
Three Unitech students have since been arrested for questioning over this killing.
O’Neill told the gathering that Works and Implementation Minister Francis Awesa, also MP for Imbonggu, would be on the ground within two weeks to oversee the commencement of work on Graham Romanong Memorial High School.
Welcoming the National Government commitment, Awesa told the local communities to identify land at Kolopa for the new school.
He noted that Imbonggu district does not have oil, gas and mineral deposits or coffee growing on big scale to generate revenue for the district.
“We depend on education and human resources and the commitment by prime minister is most welcoming news for the district,” Awesa, who has been championing for investment in education said.
He committed funding for a double classroom for Wakwak primary school.
As well, Awesa said he would allocated K100,000 this year towards starting work on Graham Romanong Memorial High School.
Included in a list of demands in a report given by the local steering committee to O’Neill, the people had asked for an educational institution in memory of late Graham Romanong.
Their request to this effect was granted by O’Neill’s on-the-spot decision thereby relieving the people of their demands.
Copies of the demands have been made for the National Executive Council, Police Minister Robert Atiyafa, Unitech Administration, Opposition Leader Don Polye and Enga Provincial Governmen
Picture: Romanong Honored - Some school-aged children from Wakwak, Umbimi, Kape, Longo, Rumpim, Yemlon and Tek villages that stand to benefit from the proposed Graham Romanong Memorial High School.