Northern Province

TFF working at district level: Gore

Gore said this following the opening of five new teachers houses and a double classroom building at Agenahambo Primary School in Sohe district.

The Minister and local Member said this was a positive outcome despite many negative stories that have been reported in the media about Northern Province.

“Thank you parents and thank you to the school management on how you managed these funds.

“They (Government) are sending money down to the schools, if monies are used properly schools will be developed like these,” Gore said.

Cyclone Guba flooding still haunts locals

Virginia Pijai, a women’s leader from Numba village in Afore, Ijivitari District in Northern Province said locals dread another similar disaster during heavy downpours.

She said many lessons had been learnt from the disaster, which claimed the loves of 14 people from their village

Pijai said villagers have begun making gardens and building homes away or on higher ground from the rivers and waterways.

However, this does not erase the fear of another flooding disaster.

Coffee grower asks for road repairs in Northern Province

Ese Development Association, Activity Coordinator and coffee farmer, Machara Otosi, told Loop PNG that the current road conditions are forcing coffee growers to sell their coffee beans at low prices.

The Numba villager said the very bad state of roads and distance meant that they sold their coffee at very low prices to individual buyers willing to make the journey up into the mountains.

Otosi said at one time he sold 20 50kg bags of coffee of which if sold at the market price between K5 and K10, he would have made between K5,000 to K10, 000.

Oro people flood town as Juffa nominates

The incumbent Governor had been at the Kokoda Station earlier to celebrate ANZAC Day with officials from Australia, including the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and the Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

After a brief Memorial Service, Juffa was transported via helicopter to his waiting supporters at Dorin Park in Popondetta.

Juffa had opted to move in quietly and nominate for his respective seat, but the people of Oro would not allow it.

Roads crucial for Managalas people

The sealing of roads within the plateau will see improvement in the transportation of cash crops to markets for better income generation.

Kingsford Nichoi from Numba Village in Ward Five of Zone Six says he and his people have struggled for years with the current road conditions.

He said  many local produce grown is wasted as they are unable to sell due to the road conditions.

“Rot em wanpla bikpla samtin lo mipla lo plateau.

Major Popondetta drug ring uncovered

Over 200 marijuana plants were seized, including a home-made firearm and six .50 calibre bullets, when OIC Sgt Jimmy Bonanda and his team raided a hideout at Koropata village.

The successful bust in the Higaturu LLG, along the Kokoda Highway, was the result of information received during the weekend after the detention of a teenager.

He was found in possession of an unusually large amount of marijuana. Upon interrogating the young man, Bonanda and his team uncovered a supply network that ran through Girua all the way up the Kokoda highway to the supplier in Koropata.

A new magician in town

He is in his early teens and is currently an apprentice to the nation’s favourite – Jack Spade.

In his mission to grow the talent, Jack Spade randomly selected 10 boys around the same age who showed interest and taught them a simple magic trick.

It was Jemo Magical who followed the rules as laid out and showed eagerness to learn more.

Jemo Magical has already performed with Jack Spade in some gigs around their hometown of Popondetta, Northern Province.

But at the moment, he performs as a mute magician.

13 dead in road accident in Oro

Reports reaching Loop PNG from a reliable source say that the casualty toll has been put at 20 with 13 confirmed dead while seven are in Intensive Care Unit at the Popondetta General Hospital.

According to Ramsay Afo in Popondetta, the PMV was travelling from Kokoda to Popondetta and the oil palm fruit truck travelling towards Kokoda at a high speed.

Afo, who was at the Popondetta General Hospital, told Loop PNG that the casualties might increase.

The fruit truck belongs to the Higaturu Oil Palms.

PM to officially open Kumusi Bridge

Funded by the Australian Government and delivered through the Department of Works, the contract value of the bridge is over K139 million.

After Cyclone Guba destroyed the bridges in 2007, PNG requested Australian support to design and construct four new bridges in the province. 

The three major bridges at Eroro, Girua and Ambogo are now open to the public, with the bridge at Kumusi just completed. 

All four bridges have been designed to withstand future flooding events and ensure a safer and more reliable road network in Northern Province.

Trekkers: Kapa Kapa Trail a tremendous journey

The trekkers, from Australia, Belgium and Scotland, commenced the 220km journey at Gabagaba Village, Central Province, on October 4.

They successfully completed the track in 17 days, led by experienced trekker Peter Gamgee from the Getaway Trekking Company.

They’ve all taken home wonderful memories of the diverse plants, animals, culture and people living along the trail.

The track was used by American soldiers during World War II in 1942 during a battle to defeat the Japanese on the northern beaches.