Central Province

Gov’t urged to intervene in excessive rice pricing

In addressing concerns affecting daily lives and budgets of countless Papua New Guineans regarding the soaring prices of rice, Rigo Rice have presented some key findings from trials conducted.

Rigo Rice found that:

  1. Farming and costs before milling:

Average harvest per hectare was 6.7 tonnes of rice. Total cost of production excluding land and machinery, amounted to K5, 700. 00 per hectare. This translates to a cost of K.0.85 per kg of paddy rice.

Governor Peter focuses on major projects

Governor Peter stated that that provincial government’s priority is twofold when awarding contracts – the first is to ensure value for money is gained by the Province and, that private partnership is strengthened in the province.

LOs give green light for road project

Paramount Chief of Foleka Deva Deva village in the Kunni Local Level Government (LLG) Kairuku District, Albert Mara, and Woitape LLG president and landowner of the Tolukuma Mine, Fabian Aia, welcomed the project saying that the road project would bring much needed services to their people.

The leaders told a government team led by the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) last week that their people had waited for many years for the project to take off the ground.

Central Governor calls for assistance

She informed the House the extent of the floods that had caused widespread damages to food gardens and vital infrastructure and urged the Government for relief assistance.

 “Since February and March of this year, the province has experienced bad weather and from May 29 to 31st, we had experienced three days of torrential rainfall that resulted in flash flooding, that affected a lot of people almost more than one-third of the population of Central Province.

3D Seismic survey

The 3D seismic survey will reveal potential of one billion oil resource offshore Papua New Guinea.

Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Kerenga Kua, and Department Secretary, David Manau, who inspected the PXGEO 2, a cutting-edge seismic acquisition vessel on its arrival recently.

They were pleased with the progress being made by Larus Energy.

Gomore Volleyball tournament

The tournament saw eight women’s and 9 men’s teams that started in March, ending last weekend.

The purpose of this community sport is to get back the love of the game of volleyball and to see the change in the behaviour of the village youths. 

There were two divisions, male and female, with the women having eight teams while the men had nine teams. In the men’s division, the Expendables and Delight Power battled to get the winning trophy, while in the women’s division, it was Neighbours and the White Rose teams who contested.

Tauruba CRC host meeting for the first time

The week-long event began on Monday 15th May and will end on Friday the 19th of May.  

Tauruba Christian Revival Crusade (CRC) Church in Rigo District Central Province hosted over 70 CRC pastors and church leaders around the country.

National Council Chairman Pastor Barnabas Tabara said the provincial delegates from the 22 provinces are meeting to discuss and assess ways forward for CRC in PNG.

Preventing and Treating Malaria in PNG

Malaria trilateral project, Rotarians Against Malaria, WHO, and the PNG Institute of Medical Research were part of this visit.

The main message delivered to the school children and parents of Kerea primary school was that malaria is preventable by sleeping under a treated mosquito net and curable if tested early and treated with a complete course of medication.

Imbal is CPG Finance Manager

Senior officials from the Department of Finance, Deputy Secretary Sam Penias, district officers, and Provincial Administrator, Francis Koaba witnessed the occasion.

The appointment of Acting Provincial Financial Manager, Terence Mairi, was revoked by the Department of Finance and an appointment made for Walis Imbal to the substantive position as Provincial Finance Manager for Central.

Penias acknowledged Mairi for the time he has worked as the acting Provincial Finance Manager, saying he has done extremely well on the job.

Drug seized at h’way checkpoint

Police officers who were doing motorist patrol along the Hiritano Highway were notified of the movement of the nine men who were travelling from Tapani into Port Moresby.

Central Provincial police commander Superintendent John Midi said the police officers were doing motorist check at Doa towards Agevairu on vehicles travelling along the highway when they sighted a suspicious Toyota Land Cruiser that had nine people inside the vehicle.