Lekwa Gure

Central Province Election Manager, Peter Malaifeope said counting venue will be at Bomana Training College and Murray Barracks for security reasons.

The boating incident occurred last week. The late Reverend and his wife were on their way to Keapara to vote. Gure stated that the traveling party capsized at the mouth of Kempwelch River, Kalo Village. Kamali villagers confirmed that there was rough seas and strong winds which likely turned the dinghy over.

According to villagers, Mrs Ila’s body was found at Hula Village on Thursday 7^th July, while Pastor Ila’s body was found the next day Friday 8^th, in Kalo River.

Gure made these remarks after some Members of Parliament allegedly vying for the position as published in the media on Tuesday.
 
“I called the caucus meeting of the Parliamentary wing after the late Sam Basil's passing, where all the five current members attended. After putting all the issues and interest on the table and considering a bigger picture on mind, the elections.
 
“It was not a vote, but a conscious decision made by the five of us for me to be the leader of the Party. At this point in time, there is no vacancy in the leadership of the party.”

The party executives, in a meeting this morning in Port Moresby, made the announcement.

Gure’s appointment comes following the tragic passing of party founder and leader, and Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil. Basil, who was Member of Parliament for Wau/Bulolo, died in a vehicle accident along the Lae-Bulolo Highway last week. 

The body of the late DPM was flown into Port Moresby yesterday evening and lies in the funeral home.

A Lie in State ceremony will be held for him tomorrow, Tuesday 17^th May, 2022.

Actual ground works will commence in the first quarter of 2020.

The Nadzab airport in Lae will be upgraded under the CADIP project that will make it suitable for Boeing 767 aircrafts and a Code E alternate to Jackson’s International Airport.

The NAC general manager of the airport infrastructure division, Gebo Henao, said: “We have the widening and strengthening of the existing runway, taxiways and apron.

This is an initiative of the Digicel Foundation in partnership with the office of the Member for Rigo and the District Development Authority.

The partnership for the purchase of the mobile health centre was signed on Monday, November 12^th.

Many sectors in both districts and provinces lack resources and facilities and in the health sector, mobile health services or fully kitted ambulances is one of the vital resources that is lacking; and this is no exception for Rigo District in Central Province.

National Planning Minister Richard Maru, whose department was instrumental in assisting with the formation of the District plan, challenged Rigo to make use of the abundance of land.

The Rigo District Development Plan was launched recently at the Laguna Hotel in Port Moresby.

The event was attended by senior government ministers, including Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

An elated member for Rigo, Lekwa Gure, thanked the efforts of all partners that were involved in the development of the five year plan.

Acting Secretary of the Department of Implementation and Rural Development, Aihi Vaki, wants reports and acquittals for Service Improvement Programs, 5 year development plans and non-discretionary funds to precisely show the link between decisions, development plans and implementation and how funds were used in these areas.

This, he says, is the basis of delivering tangible development.

Vaki said it is required by law that these reports and acquittals be submitted.

The election petition disputing Lekwa Gure’s election as Rigo member was dismissed today for being incompetent.

The Waigani National Court dismissed the petition that was filed by former member, Ano Pala, on grounds of bribery and errors and omission during counting.

Gure and the Electoral Commission challenged the competency of the petition, which was upheld.

The sitting MP told the court the petition did not plead facts required by section 208 of the organic law and that the petition lacked facts or particulars to support the bribery allegations.

Plans to convert it are in the pipeline while it is anticipated that the college will open for enrolment in 2020.

Kwikila Secondary School is the only secondary school in Rigo.

While there are plans to upgrade it, there are also bigger plans to establish a technical college to cater for Grade 12 students graduating from Kwikila secondary.