SHP

Highlands Western End Commander, acting Assistant Commissioner John Kale said counting in the province is progressing well, however, he has received police intelligence reports of an alleged build-up of firearms within Mendi township

The meeting comprise of the Provincial Election Manager Alwynn Jimmy, the Quick Response Force Commanders, Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Daniel Yangen and the electoral officials in the province to strategise on how we can fast-track the counting. 

Lapan Mirupasi, an elder from Southern Highlands, is saying no to violence against the female populace.

Mr Mirupasi was responding to the recent alleged murder of 32-year-old Imelda Tupi Tiamanda.

Late Imelda’s death is being laid heavily on her husband, Dr Simon Temo, and two other men, who were in his company at the time the deceased was found.

Mirupasi said, “I seek all your views especially Southern Highlands men to support for a proposed protest march to stop violence against women.

The partnership is for three years at a cost of K3 million which will see FPDA providing technical assistance and mobilizing farmers to use their land and prioritized farming especially potatoes.

Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator Joseph Cajetan said agriculture is one of five key priority areas the Provincial administration has embarked on, in the province.

He added that the provincial administration has established a potato factory in Pangia district and the partnership between FPDA will boost the technical aspects of the farmers and grow more potatoes.

Governor William Powi has recently allocated K10 million to support rural farmers to grow potato to utilize the Innovative Agro Industry’s (IAI) Pangia Chips factory which is currently buying locally grown potato.

Department of Agriculture and Livestock Advisor for SHP Kenneth Kuim said he was pleased to see a remarkable interest shown by the local people in farming potato.

Despite the Corona Virus threats around the country, Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) was in the province to provide basic planting skills and supply materials for farmers on trial basis.

The Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill told Loop PNG that the number of security forces will increase in the next few days.

The PM’s response came after Shadow Minister for Democratic Institutions and the Rule of Law, Kerenga Kua released a statement claiming that O’Neill must be blamed for the lawlessness behavior happening in Southern Highlands and Hela Provinces.

Kua claimed that regular incidents of violence and lawlessness are taking place in these two provinces without the lack of government supervised interventions.

In accepting the writ from the SHP Provincial Returning Officer, Steven Gore Kaupa, Commissioner Gamato also accepted and recognized incumbent Governor William Titpe Powi as the duly elected MP-elect for Southern Highlands Provincial.

Upon legal advice, the Electoral Commissioner applied section 175 of the Organic Law on National Elections under “special circumstances” to use the primary count results to confirm the declaration made by the former Provincial Returning Officer Jacob Kurap on Friday, 20 July 2017 at 4:04pm at the Momei Oval in Mendi.

This included a visit to the Yoko Koya Council Ward, where he opened the new Yoka-Uro elementary school.

“I am here in your village on this last day of campaigning, to open your new school, because expanding infrastructure is of great importance for our government,” O’Neill said.

“We must keep building schools in remote and rural areas, we must keep building better roads and bridges, and we must keep expanding health services.

The only access for these people was to get up as early as 3am to get to the nearest road and catch a PMV to town.

That is now a thing of the past, thanks to the Southern Highlands Provincial government through the leadership of Governor William Powi who put money aside every year since taking office.

A total of 5 million invested over five years has seen the completion of this road.

Community leaders said the road was first built by hand back in the 1960s and has never been funded since then.