Hela

Security personnel withdrawn from Hela

Commissioner for Police, Gari Baki, confirmed this today during a conference at the Police Headquarters in Port Moresby.

Baki said only a small contingent of defence and two sections of the mobile squad are still in the province.

The officers were pulled out for a couple of reasons; one of which is to reposition the men and prepare again for redeployment for the elections. The second reason is the issue of funding.

However, Baki says that will not stop them from going into phase two of the call-out operations, which will be the targeted operations in the province.

Governor Potape assists Hela students in Madang

Representative of the Governor’s office Tape Pulupe handed over a cheque payment to Hela students Association President Edwin Gayani on Tuesday.

Speaking to the students’, Pulupe said it was a great honor indeed on behalf of the Governor to assist Hela students studying in three institutions in Madang.

“The Governor’s office and the Hela electorate recognised the importance of your education as the future assets of Hela and PNG as a whole, because after you graduated from DWU you will contribute to the socio economic development of PNG,” says Pulupe.

Local organisations working in Partnership to combat FSV in Hela

The agreement signed on the March 2, 2017, brings together two local Papua New Guinean organisations and will improve access to response services and health providers including referral where needed for GBV survivors and communities.

GBV including Family and Sexual Violence (FSV) in Hela is a major challenge and the Foundation has been providing support to the Hela Provincial Hospital Family Support Centre (FSC) since March 2016.

Hela people call on Dion to visit province

They said this has led to the recent call-out by the government.

Hela Gimbu Association Inc chairman Damien Arabagali said Sir Leo as the Minister responsible must take the lead and visit the new province.

“Why is the Deputy Prime Minister not visiting the province? We are calling on him to visit the new province and experience what life is in the province rather than staying in Port Moresby.

“If he doesn’t visit the province, he must resign and let others take over from him,” says Arabagali.

Legal battle over Hela Governor Seat continues

This time, it has gone before the Supreme Court with member for Koroba-Lake Kopiagio, Philip Undialu filing an application asking the Supreme Court to stay the National Court proceeding.

This is the National Court proceeding which Justice Collin Makail found both the elections of Komo-Margarima MP, Francis Potape, and Koroba-Lake Kopiagio MP, Philip Undialu, to the Governor’s post on July 5,  null and void as it breached Standing Orders of the Hela Provincial Government.

Call for SOE is unnecessary, says Potape

Instead, he is calling on his colleague members of parliament to return to the province and take a lead in restoring normalcy to the province.

Potape was responding to media reports today where Member for Koroba Lake Kopiago, Philip Undialu called for a state of emergency to be declared in Hela Province. His call was supported by the Member for Tari Pori and Finance Minister James Marape.

Treat landowner issue with consideration, says Juffa

Juffa exclusively told Loop PNG that if the government is not careful, the situation will lead to a crisis similar to the Bougainville case.

"More than 200 cargoes of LNG shipment have left our shores and the landowners are yet to receive a toea from the Government, which is unbelievable,” said Juffa.

"It was fine for the government to take them to Kokopo and have them sign all types of agreement without questioning their land ownership.

Potape calls on Bando to respect leaders

He said Bando is a good man and deserved the job after acting on the position for a very long time.

However, Potape was disappointed with Bando for his comments on the media.

Bando in today’s National newspaper said one of his job was to be the glue among the political leaders and the people.

However, he said the non-attendance by the Potape faction was not good and got to show that there was still division among the leaders.

Court rules in favour of late Anderson Agiru

Justice Ere Kariko delivered the decision in a packed court room in Port Moresby today.

The same court also ruled that certain actions taken by the assembly to oust the then governor, late Anderson Agiru was null and void.

These actions include a letter dated 14th December 2015 that served as a notice of calling a Provincial Assembly meeting, another letter dated 22nd December 2015 to be the motion dismissing the plaintiff as Governor of Hela and other meetings held by Francis Potape and the assembly members.

Late Anderson Agiru’s body finally laid to rest

He was buried at his mother’s village, Tapanda near the Dauli Teachers College in Tari.

Late Governor succumbed to heart attack on April 28, 2016 in Port Moresby and pronounced dead at the Pacific International Hospital.

Loop PNG has been covering the events from his death in Port Moresby, to Mendi, Southern Highlands and Hela, the province he was the captain of until his burial today.

Late Agiru was 54 years old.

He had been receiving treatment for kidney malfunction since June 2015.