Hela

It has been 21 years since the closure of the CS facility in Hawa, Hela province due to  Elnino in 1997 leaving the facility to deteriorate over the years.

In what was supposed to be a temporary lock up, the situation allowed for opportunists to take advantage of what was left of the facility and the lack of corporation and support from previous provincial and national government until this year.

With poor security coordination, criminals have taken over the roads especially during the transportation of remandees to the courts back and forth from Tari, considering the long distance they have to travel.

Hela governor, Philip Undialu in a conference with the Correctional Services on the reopening of the Hawa CS facility in Hela, says warned opportunists to refrain from such activities.

 “Now it is a signal going to the people of Hela, especially the culprits and law breakers. We will come hard on any perpetrators.”

Petitioners Francis Potape, Dr Hewali Hemia and incumbent MP Philip Undialu had their lawyers address the court today on whether to hear the two petitions separately or together after Undialu’s lawyer asked the court to vary the orders which joined the two petitions for trial.

Potape, who brought in a total of 60 witnesses from Hela, Mt Hagen, Lae and as far as Wewak, is calling for respect and peace among the supporters.

“I don’t want anyone to threaten anyone. No one should threaten any of the witnesses,” Potape said.

Baki says this issue has blown out of proportion and it needs to be addressed before another state of emergency, or call out, is required.  

He said collective effort is needed at this point. It is not an issue concerning security or police anymore, and unless there is a matter of law and order, police can only do so much.

Baki said security can be provided. Personnel have already been deployed however, the police hierarchy cannot afford to constantly deploy a large number of personnel every time issues of this nature arise.

The Hela leaders met in Port Moresby and demanded that investigations into the killing of officers must be given paramount importance.

Speaking as the Provincial Administrator and relative of the slain officers, William Bando, has called on Southern Highlands leaders, including Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, to address the problem, because the operations of the PNG LNG project stands to be affected by the recent ambush and murder of the police officers.

The killing happened along the Mendi highway. 

Undialu said he had anticipated such an attack, which was why he came out in the media to warn the public not to interfere with issues affecting the people of Hela.

Governor Undialu said killing, robbery and rape is common along the Nipa-Mendi section of the Highlands Highway and leaders of the province need to come out and address this.

He said the name of the entire Southern Highlands and Hela province continues to be tarnished, thanks to a handful of troublemakers.

Speaking at the recent swearing-in ceremony of the Provincial Executive Council members in Tari, Marape commended Governor Philip Undialu for the wisdom to initiate such partnership with churches.

“I have committed myself to work with Governor Philip Undialu when it comes to developing the province”, he said.

“The Governor is the boss of the province and we must all learn to work together and learn to respect authority in place to run the province.

The redevelopment of the airport will cost K55 million under the Asian Development Bank funded Civil Aviation Development Investment Program (CADIP).

Hela Governor, Philip Undialu, said the signing of the agreement is well over due.

He thanked the National Government, NAC, and ADB for considering Hela this time for the redevelopment.

The K55m will be used to do fencing, terminal, and runway sealing. 

“For the long term, we are also planning on doing the same for the Komo airport,” says Undialu.

The health workers will be given training on ‘Directly Observed Treatment’ (DOTS) placing them at the frontline of the TB fight.

The training comes as a result of a strengthened partnership between the Oil Search Foundation (OSF) and the Hela Provincial Health Authority (HPHA).

In a statement OSF Deputy Director, Kymberley Kepore said the Foundation works within existing government systems while continuously building on stakeholder relationships to enhance health service delivery.

He said a priority area his administration will be embarking on is the landowner benefits the government is yet to release to them.

Undialu added that so far, more than 300 shipments of LNG have been exported overseas but landowners are yet to receive their royalties.

He said the delay is also on the landowners, who are yet to fix the clan vetting and access their royalties.

Undialu further reiterated that the ‘gun surrender’ program in Hela will continue in order to maintain investor confidence and peace in the province.