Nixon Duban

Minister Duban will officially launch the K300,000 Bahor Primary School classroom and teachers houses project, K500,000 major road sealing project and K200,000 for Bilbil Aidpost to be converted into Community Health Centre.

Madang MP Electoral Officer Nimrod Lahu says the locals in the area are looking forward to welcome Minister and talk with him regarding major projects in the area.

He says Minister Duban will launch the project this Sunday.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and Member for Madang who visited the school presented the cheque to the Bigawa Primary school board, head master and ward councilor.

Ward Councilor, Bill Gera says for the first time in 40 years a local MP visited the school and gave such funds.

He says the Bigawa people, which includes Kagi, Bai and Nawadi have never seen a local MP visiting them and presenting funding to the school and other infrastructure development, and Minister Duban has created history.

In the cabinet reshuffle, the former Petroleum and Energy Minister relinquished his portfolio and takes over from William Duma.

Duma is now the Minister for Public Enterprise and Investment.

Duban officially took up his new office on Tuesday and had a meeting with Secretary for Transport, Roy Mumu.

The secretary advised the minister on the department’s roles and responsibilities.

The Transport Department’s core role is to deal with policy matters of transport including the sea, land and air sectors.

In his New Year message to his people, Duban says 2016 will be challenging as there are a lot of issues that are still being addressed.

Despite this he says his office is committed to ensuring all outstanding matters are dealt with and programs  are delivered.

Madang Province has seen hike in law and order issues with police sometimes being outnumbered.

Duban has made it his priority to ensure Madang town and the province is safe for all.

He says local leaders representing the people have raised concerns they want the government to deal with interests of the people first and then the project.

Duban says the people want the Government to secure infrastructure developments in the province.

He added that he has had discussions with the province’s governor and the local people and consultation meetings with the people have taken place in Kerema town on many occasions.

This is for involving  in an election court case as witness to Brian Krammer in 2012, which saw the court rule in favour of Krammer to go for a by election.

The Aufan community came together presenting five pigs and garden food to the Minister as a sign of reconciliation and the beginning of a new era in their relationship.

Youth representative and Ward Two village recorder Jeffery Sambe on behalf of the community apologised to Minister Duban and urge him to let go the past and work with them to bring services to the community.

Member for Madang and Minister for Petroleum and Energy Nixon Duban told PNG Loop today that he had not been shown any of the project’s designs or plans on how they will establish the project in his electorate.

“The project is in my district and I am not aware of any of the scopings or designs by the developer of the project. I am in total darkness, and yet the project is in my place,” a confused Duban said.