Central Province

Family surrenders murder suspect to police

Paul Karuka, 21, of Kivori-Kui in Kairuku District of Central Province, is the alleged murderer of James Ikupu, 32, of the same village. Karuka is a year 12 student at Mainohana Secondary School in the Central Province.

It was alleged that on December 22nd, 2018, village youths, including the suspect and victim, were consuming alcohol. The suspect and the victim were cousin brothers. Whilst drinking a fight broke out between the youths and the suspect allegedly murdered the victim.

Karuka went into hiding after he allegedly committed the crime.

Rigo launches development plan

National Planning Minister Richard Maru, whose department was instrumental in assisting with the formation of the District plan, challenged Rigo to make use of the abundance of land.

The Rigo District Development Plan was launched recently at the Laguna Hotel in Port Moresby.

The event was attended by senior government ministers, including Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

An elated member for Rigo, Lekwa Gure, thanked the efforts of all partners that were involved in the development of the five year plan.

Central sets sight on Provincial Health Authority

The Governor for Central and members of the Provincial Administration were brought up to speed, after bringing to the National Department of Health, their desire to implement a Health Authority as soon as possible.

The Governor for Central and members of the Central Provincial Administration are adamant to have their development agendas made a reality.

Youths on murder charge allowed bail

Lua Iru and Wari Varage were arrested on April 8 after they allegedly killed a man on April 6 while fighting over a disputed land.

The man they allegedly killed intervened to stop the fight after they used fence posts to attack each other.

The deceased was struck on the back of his head. He felt pain to his head and was coughing up blood when he was taken to the Kupiano Health Centre.

He was later taken to the Port Moresby General Hospital but died on the way.

Goilala focuses on rural-urban drift

These plans were deliberated on during the district administration meeting in Kania Village, Goilala, Central Province.

The district development authority (DDA) meeting was brought back to the village with the aim of engaging leaders at the village level, thus encouraging collective decision making.

“We’d like to as much as possible bring service to our people, and bringing the DDA meeting to them is one way to let them know what we are doing at the DDA level,” explained William Samb, member for Goilala.

Passengers afraid

Josephine Ine'e, an emotional mother from Inawi in Mekeo, told media that many of them who reside in Port Moresby are hesitant to make the trip home because they are afraid of the constant abuse by police who stop trucks and search their cargo along the roads.

The operators were on hand to express frustration about constant abuse received by the personnel who at times are in unmarked vehicles and half uniform or plain civilian clothes.

Over K96,000 worth of goods, cash stolen

Central provincial police commander, Laimo Asi, told Loop PNG that a group of armed men, numbering over 10, entered the Kupiano area using two dinghies. This was between 8.30pm and 9pm.

“They then proceeded on foot to Kupiano Station, held up our district officers and took an education vehicle,” PPC Asi said.

The group then went into the Central police station commander’s residence and ambushed him and his family.

“They fired shots at the police station commander while he was in the house with his family,” PPC Asi reported.

Inap Nau Campaign reaches Central Province

The campaign, spearheaded by Papua Hahine Besena, is geared towards ending gender-based violence and other socials issues affecting the villagers.

The campaign will run from February 26-28 in Gaire, Barakau and Tubuserea villages.

The campaign aims to create a wave of change in these Motuan coastline villages.

“The awareness will be carried out on council days of each village,” said Lawrence Tau from National Youth Development Authority, who are partners of Papua Hahine Besena Inap Nau Campaign.

Water-borne diseases on rise in province

This was revealed by Dr Cindy Gaso, who is based at the Veifa’a mission run hospital.

The doctor also revealed that the hospital, which usually caters for the villagers, has also been affected by the flood.

“Sanitation and water will be a major issue,” she said.

“This may go on for at least six months or even a year.

“What is important now is the water supply; pit toilets were over flooded, flowing into the water wells, which causes decontamination.”

Dr Gaso noted that the recovery period will be a long one.

Relief planned for flooded Central villages

Most affected are the areas from the Mekeo area of the province.

Yesterday the disaster coordinator and a representative from Red Cross did an aerial survey of the area.

They flew from the mouth of the Angabanga River upstream to Veifa’a, Ipiana, Amiata and the Central, West and East Mekeo area.

There was evidence of severe flooding which has since subsided while a few houses seen to have been flooded could be seen from the air.