Gulf Province

King Tide Hits Gulf Villages

After a week-long of King Tide, almost 25 houses in Kukipi, Isapeape and Lese Avihara in East Kerema LLG have been swept away including the sub health centre in Lese Avihara.

Schools have been affected and houses have been removed as communities plan to relocate away from the beachfront.

Lese Avihara Community Health Worker, Josephine Sam said the medicines have been washed off the shelves and she is unable to attend to the patients coming from the community and three nearby villages.

Gulf health workers complete training

Many travelled in from very remote areas to get a better understanding of how to communicate to their communities about the vaccine.

Gulf PHA Incidental Manager, Sandra Yamuwe, says: “This training is very important because the COVID-19 vaccination update in Gulf PHA is very low. Also with the National General Elections currently happening, it’s important that all our health workers are trained to cater for any surges of COVID-19.”

Gulf Seats Complete Quality Checks

This has caused slow progressive counting updates since Thursday night. Due to numerous issues regarding counting figures, the Gulf Electoral Office was advised to undergo quality checks for every count before progressive totals are posted. This is to avoid any disputes.

So far, Gulf provincial counting centre have completed the quality check for Kerema Urban, Central Kerema LLG and East Kerema LLG. Checks have also been done for Tairuma and the four Kikori LLGs.

Kerema open has completed all primary counts for all 6 LLGs with quality checks done.

Gulf Counting Progress Despite Setbacks

The counting yesterday for Gulf provincial, Kerema and Kikori open seats were delayed for almost a day.

The candidates and scrutineers had confronted the Gulf Electoral Office stating that there were irregularities in the counting and should not continue.

However, counting resumed late yesterday after candidates, supporters and the provincial electoral office reached an understanding. 

As of midday today, PANGU Pati candidate, Thomas Opa is leading the race and still maintains lead since Monday, 25th July.

The progressive tally for Kerema Open:

Gulf Counting Underway

For Central Kerema LLG Count # 12/47 (Karama, Pukari, Elava and Koaru, Wards 10, 11, 12) as at this morning, the progressive results for Kerema Open are;

1. Thomas Opa (PANGU) - 2,833

2. Teretere Terry Maraka (Ind) - 1,178

3. Nickson Laime Niki (Ind) - 968

4. Roland Alo Kapo (Liberal Party) – 918

5. Koraea Kingsley Lore (Ind) - 772

6. Alex Hearo (ULP) - 713

7. Jack Narrie (Ind) - 426

8. Hekaroa Haroho Pala (Ind) - 365

9. Sieman Farapo (PNG Party) - 352

10. Nori Daniel Arimu (PNGNP) – 246

 

New communications tower for Kikori

Governor Chris Haiveta announced the tower has been paid for and will be shipped up to the Station soon.

He announced this at Kikori Station recently.

“There will be a tower that the provincial government is putting up here. We've already paid for it, and it’s a matter of time for them to ship it across and the tower will be put up here by Digicel. So your communications issues are resolved,” said the Governor.

Gulf Pipeline LO’s receive LNG benefits

The Benefit rollout is the first since the signing of the Umbrella benefit Sharing Agreement (UBSA) in 2009 and the first flow through and shipment of LNG in 2014.

This follows the completion of landowner identification, the opening of clan bank accounts, and the election of directors to the board of their landowner company.

It was a historic occasion with Petroleum Minister, Kerenga Kua, and Gulf Governor, Chris Haiveta, accompanying Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) Managing Director, Augustine Mano, to announce the benefit roll out in Kikori on Wednesday.

K165m budget approved for Gulf

This include airstrips and feeder roads in districts and LLGs.

Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta said the budget yesterday is framed along the theme ‘Restore Governance, Strengthen Institutions and Improve Government Services in Health, Education and Infrastructure’.

Governor Haiveta said one of the main priorities under the budget is to reopen important links costing over K50 million, the highest allocation.

Jungle Intelligence on a mission

Pukari in Malalaua district is the first to accept the idea initiated to formally organise themselves through landowner associations.

Jerry Sarufa, founder of JI, says the idea is to network the communities with business, corporate and private entities.

But first, there has to be proper documentation and paperwork in order to enter formal arrangement or agreement with entities they wish to partner with.

Sarufa’s team travelled into Gulf on April 4 to see the progress on ground, which he said was impressive.

Human resource an issue for remote village

For Pukari, a remote community in Gulf Province, human resource is an issue.

The blame may fall back to Pukari Primary School, but there are many other external contributing factors.

Shedding light and expressing concern was the current headmaster Erevai Toere.

The school has 297 students from grades 3 to 8. There are 80 students in each class, and only 6 teachers to cater for them.

On average, less than 10 students pass on to do Grade 9, either at the Kerema Coronation Secondary School or Malalaua High School.