Goroka

Governor Numu recently conducted a ground breaking ceremony of a K2 million road project at Yauna village.

It runs from Basis village in Goroka district through Yauna, Omena, Orumbafoe villages in the Unggai LLG and ends at the border of Foe village in Chuave, Simbu Province.

The 18km road project will be constructed by Nokondi Investment Ltd and Prodigy Construction Ltd.

This road project will serve the 7,000-plus population after being neglected for almost 40 years.

This road project initiative has brought the light of development to their very doorstep.

Welcomed by Governor Peter Numu and his administration, the delegates were treated to a variety of unique and colorful traditional singsing.

Whilst at the new terminal, the delegates were also given a chance to taste the famous Goroka coffee.

The trip was to enable delegates to gain a better understanding of Papua New Guinea and its people and culture.

The delegates will also visit coffee farmers and other SMEs.

More to come…

Eastern Highlands provincial police commander, Alex N’Drasel, said around 4 to 5 armed men entered the bank’s Priority Banking area and robbed a BSP client.

They took off with K567,000 cash.

PPC N’Drasel said between 10am and 11am, the robbers drove into the Priority Banking area and parked there.

Soon after, the accountant of Shanda Trading, including an Asian man and their driver, drove into the parking lot.

When the female accountant stepped out of the vehicle to enter the bank, the men got out with high powered guns and held them up.

Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu says he has already discussed with relevant authorities and has come up with an investigation team to look into issues faced by locals. This includes investigating salaries.

In an effort to weed out corruption in Eastern Highland Province, the Governor said it’s about time the Government does the right thing and fight for what rightfully belongs to its people.

He said many companies are operating illegally in the province and have used local people as cheap labour.

This has been confirmed by the members of the ‘Save Bongre’ fundraising drive, which was raising funds to support him.

The three-year-old succumbed to a rare form of cancer for children – retinoblastoma, that had affected his right eye.

It became his parents’ nightmare over the last two years.

Bongre’s story caught the country’s attention when mother Sinta and father Anton brought him to Port Moresby in search of answers.

According to inside sources from the Kokopo camp, they are awaiting on the announcement from Pangu Pati leader Sam Basil.

However, Basil told Loop PNG that such talks are for leaders to discuss and he did not want to discuss further on the rumors.

The Kokopo camp currently has 15 MPs in camp but will be increasing as more MPs elect are anticipated to be joining them today.

Out of the 15, ten MPs are from the National Alliance Party while the other five are from coalition partners and independent MPs.

More updates to come.

First up at 2pm will see the EPG Enga Mioks play host to Waghi Tumbe.

Across to Goroka, the visiting Agmark Rabaul Gurias go up against the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis.

In Lae, the reigning premiers Lae Snax Tigers will do battle with the Kroton Hela Wigmen. This game will be televised live by TVWAN for the first time ever.

Finally down to the nation’s capital, the NCDC Port Moresby Vipers take on PRK Mendi Muruks.

All three matches are scheduled to kick off at 3pm.

A candidate in the Goroka open seat recently posted pictures on social media alleging that people are voting at will, without any control from the polling officials.

Koupa, when asked about the claims, said the presiding officer, at that time, allowed that to happen in order to complete polling on time.

"Sometimes, when polling is late, the presiding officer had to act on the best interest of the people by allowing them to vote and really don't need to call the roll."

"To me it's not hijacking of the election process," Koupa stated.

Reports from Goroka stated that local police had to intervene and use force in a campaign rally yesterday (Tuesday) after the crowd became disruptive while the prime minster was speaking.   

The rally was for PNC candidate and Governor Julie Soso.       

PM Peter O’Neill told Loop PNG that disturbance was caused by a few people under the influence of alcohol.

“People sat down and listened for over 45 minutes of my speech,” said the PM.

“Police present were the only ones allocated to PM’s office.

The association plans to host a fundraising dinner scheduled for May 20 at Stake House in Goroka.

The library will serve about 500 people that live in the area and nearby villages including Kofica, Kabiufa, Gamuga and Makiroka.

The library project will include a learning centre for women and girls.

The library and learning centre will consist of books, internet access, sewing machine, oven and conference room for girls and women to learn basic life skills.