NCD Governor Powes Parkop

Governor Parkop said the 2017 Walk for Life Campaign will kick off this weekend.

 He urged city residents to gather at Murray Barracks on Sunday at 8:30 in the morning to start the walk.

The promotion of healthy living and change of mindset was the main drive captured in the Walk for Life program.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop says he has seen the difference the program has made to the community and is pushing to involve wider participation.

Governor Parkop said on Wednesday that the program would see mass participation from people from all walks of life.

Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko presented a cheque of K549, 000 as the final component payment for the water projects on Wednesday.  

Tkatchenko said Kirakira Village will also be covered in the payment, in the development of stage two of the water project into the village.      

 The first term parliamentarian said it’s not political point scoring with elections in few months’ time.

“We have connected 16 water projects for Moresby South in the last four and half years,” Tkatchenko said.    

He also urged Port Moresby residents to celebrate peacefully.          

“As we approach the New Year, I once again appeal to our residents and indeed all our people in the length and breadth of our country to bid good bye to 2016 and welcome 2017 in style, with fun, joy, faith and a spirit of good will for the future of our city and our country,” Parkop said. 

“As Governor of our capital city, chairman of our municipal Government, NCDC and Member of Parliament representing our Port Moresby City, I want to thank all our city residents for ensuring a very peaceful, drama free Christmas period,” Parkop said.

“No arrest was reported. No drunkenness was reported and everyone celebrated Christmas quietly and peacefully.

“This is a major achievement for the city. A record after so many years and I salute and commend you all. Congratulations for achieving this milestone in the history of our City. Well done.”

Parkop, who was in the country’s third city yesterday, urged Mt Hagen residents to be more responsible and city authorities to do more.        

“Piles of rubbish everywhere in Mt Hagen (is) a sad testament to the management of our third city and the values that people in Mt Hagen and WHP subscribe to,” Parkop posted on Facebook.

“It’s about ownership and responsibility. In the villages, wards and districts of Western Highlands Province, they take pride and responsibility and care for their villages.”

Most of them have been taking it straight to social media platforms to tell the public about their ordeals and the threats and attempted holdups whilst moving about the city.

Below is a resident’s post about what took place yesterday whilst she was making her way home.

“Still shocked from the attempted hold up 3 hours ago. God, I could have killed some men on the new Baruni dump road after they attempted to stop the vehicle.

“About six men jumped onto the road, ran towards the car, throwing stones at us.

Minister for Sports, Special Events, & APEC, and Moresby South MP, Justin Tkatchenko, said various court battles over land have caused headaches for him as well as for NCD Governor, Powes Parkop.

Tkatchenko made his comments following a recent court ruling, lifting a court injunction against the municipal government from using land on which the Koki market sits.

The injunction was made after a private developer claimed ownership of the land and took NCDC to court.

National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop made the assurance that the events management team is working to come up with a mechanism to address the security problem there.

Parkop acknowledged that there have been legitimate concerns raised on social and the mainstream media, and he is now working with NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Ben Turi to address the issue.

The Governor said the whole purpose in having this Christmas celebration is to have the people take ownership of the lights and celebrate Christmas in the true festive spirit.

National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Ben Turi confirmed that police from Saraga Police Station will assist to provide security from tonight onwards.

They will join the NCDC security personnel and NCD reserve police.

Turi said the Christmas lighting and activity at Jack Pidik Park won’t be stopped as the police fully support NCD Governor Powes Parkop’s initiative.

“We will not allow criminals or hooligans to stop the initiative by the Governor,” Turi stated.

Parkop says many of the ongoing court battles between the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) and companies or individuals over state land can be avoided if the Lands Minister and Secretary revoke leases given under suspicious circumstances.

‘The minister and Secretary for Lands, they can just one go, clean it out, say that it belongs to the public, and that’s it. They have the power to revoke whatever lease that has been granted out.

“Because at the end of the day, the land that is in the city that belongs to the state and remains state land,” Parkop said.