Goilala

Race For Goilala Seat Almost Over

“Goilala Open electorate is now in their fourth last elimination and should give the decider. This morning three candidates remain out of the 38 candidates for the open seat,” he said. 

Taking the lead is PANGU Pati candidate: 

  1. Casmiro Aia with 8,517. 
  2. Alex Hoem Robert (URP) – 5,136 votes
  3. Francis Javia (PNC) – 4,663 votes.

 “By this afternoon around 3-4pm we should declare the new member for Goilala Open,” said Maia. 

Goilala Community Addressed

He was addressing the community at the Two-Mile Hill Park this afternoon regarding the rise in law and order in the area.

Governor Parkop told the community that the call by Member for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko, earlier in the week for eviction was not meant for all of them but for the 'trouble makers'.

Parkop said it was about taking ownership and leadership in addressing crime.

"Every time it’s the same story about Goilalas at Two-Mile, community leaders must find the trouble makers and send them out. There is no place for such people," he said.

MP Defends Mass Eviction Call

Justin Tkatchenko emphasised his call after the Governor for Central, Robert Agarobe, took to social media, criticising the MP for not allowing the people of Goilala living in his electorate to participate in development initiatives in Moresby South.

Tkatchenko said: “Enough is enough. I made an announcement on Friday that we will remove and evict problem makers in Moresby South. I stand by that.”

PM visits Goilala haus krai

He said this yesterday when visiting the haus krai of 15 people killed in the recent landslide at Saki Village in Goilala.

Nine bodies have been recovered so far.

Prime Minister Marape said he was very close to the Goilala people because Goilala MP and Transport Minister, William Samb, and Central Governor Robert Agarobe, had been instrumental in making him Prime Minister.

He further cautioned the people to consider their safety when mining for gold in areas like Saki, warning them against chopping down trees.

Central villages under water

 Roads have not been accessible for people in Kairuku, while some villages along the Magi highway, watched their houses being washed away.

Heavy rains have affected villages in Central province, with floods blocking off roads while food gardens and homes are submerged.

In Gaire village, people resorted to paddling on boats between houses after continuous rain saw a rise in the water level to above knee length.

Six houses were washed away in Gabagaba village, leaving families displacd. 

Burden to lessen for Goilala farmers

The district used to be the top coffee producer in the Southern Region up until the decline of government services in the area in recent years.

Coffee has grown wild in the district due to logistical challenges and loss of interest by farmers mainly due to high cost of transportation.

Coffee farmers from Tapini LLG expressed concerns on transporting coffee to the markets in Port Moresby.

A farmer pays K50 per bag to be transported to Port Moresby and K100 PMV fare for himself.

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.

Abducted 18yo reunites with family

The mentally challenged young man was mistakenly linked to a robbery at the Koki bus stop earlier that afternoon.

Dominic says he was threatened into a bus 17 with a bush knife at Badili by men, possibly of Western Highlands origin. 

He was taken to Morata 1, in the North-West electorate, where he was tortured and forced to reveal information. 

“They cut me on my calf muscles on both legs so I wouldn’t run away. Then they beat me with iron rods and knife. They burnt my eyeballs with cigarette butts,” said the young man.

18yo allegedly abducted in retaliation

Dominic Cletus is alleged to have been abducted between Badili Catholic Church and ITI at Badili in Port Moresby.

His abduction is believed to be linked to a robbery yesterday evening at Koki.

According to father Cletus Gomiai, a PMV bus was held up by drunk youths at Koki earlier that afternoon.

In retaliation, he claims a group of Western Highlanders abducted the boy, as per witness reports.

When Loop PNG arrived on since, it has been roughly 18 hours since the alleged incident.

​Goilala ballot boxes arrive at venue

There they will be kept until counting starts on Thursday (July 13).

The last box arrived late yesterday, according to Returning Officer Theodore Maia.

Maia said today they will be doing the summary and tomorrow the brief-in for counting officials and scrutineers.

Counting for Goilala Open and Central regional from the district will begin this week.