Tari

Thomas Warepa was convicted today and is now in custody at Bomana awaiting his sentence.

Justice Martin Ipang found he caused grievous bodily harm by pulling off Kelo Kewaki’s testicles in the family home at Erima, Port Moresby, on June 25 last year.

But the court noted that he had reasons behind his action. He was assaulted by Kewaki after he was found sleeping in a room of the house he wasn't supposed to.

He is shy and does not talk or play much. But when called upon to read to his peers and the public at the Kuluanda Literacy Library last week, he trudged up, in bare feet and tons of confidence, silencing the crowd with his clear voice and new-found literacy skill.

Elizah’s thrilling reading act was one of the highlights of August 11, the final day of a week-long event organised at the literacy library to mark the annual National Book Week. The children put up role plays and activities in front of emotional parents and the general public to show what they have learnt.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato clarified that the invalid ballot papers were burnt by presiding officers and witnessed by scrutinizers, candidates and security officials.

He explained that the ballot papers were invalid because they contained the name of the Koroba-Kopiago electorate and were to be used at Tari Pori.

This came after a government decision to split the 26 wards of the Avi-Pori local area in Tari-Pori electorate.

These boxes belonged to the Awi-Pori LLG, in the Koroba-Lake Kopiago District, and another LLG from Tari-Pori District.

Provincial Police Commander Michael Welly told TVWan news that the ballot papers for the LLG in Tari-Pori were mistakenly placed in the ballot boxes belonging to Awi-Pori LLG.

PPC Welly says this led to the boxes being destroyed in Tari town to avoid any tampering.

After speaking with the Hela Provincial Police Commander, Luke Wally, Gari Baki said: "I am indeed very satisfied with the outcome of this election period and I hope this continues throughout the polling period as well.”

Commissioner Baki said despite public perception, Hela has been relatively quiet, apart from the one or two incidents in recent weeks.

The elections needed to be taken seriously, stated the commissioner.

“Everyone must make sure that it is delivered successfully in their respective regions.”

Six months after the first Literacy Library opened in Tari, the librarians can hardly contain their excitement as they proudly note the achievements and behavioural changes among Hela’s pioneering cohort of literacy babies.

The Oil Search Foundation (OSF) visits the library on a regular basis to support the staff to ensure a quality program is maintained.

On a recent visit, OSF Gender Officer, Oksie Kunapa, found that the library staff are impressed with the changes taking place with the children.

The destruction of weapons will take place tomorrow, as part of the “Operation Klinim Hela” program.”

The program follows a special call out operations sanctioned by the Government to help stem the buildup of arms and ammunition in the province ahead of the 2017 National Election.

For tomorrow March 7, 2017, a joint tentative program will see Phase One of the arms surrender.

People and leaders braved the rain and cried as the casket left the aircraft to be transported t to the main stage at Andaija oval.

Children, women and men all gathered to welcome their leader.

The Speaker of Parliament Theo Zurenuoc will be handing over the body to the Provincial government shortly.

Right now people are crying in the rain.

The airline will operate additional services to cater for the backlog of passengers since the Popondetta flights were suspended last week.

Several bridges in Popondetta were damaged during heavy rains and floods last week, resulting in suspension of flights as people had difficulty getting to the airport.

As a temporary measure, it’s understood a local construction company is working on the bridges by using planks and timbers to connect bridges and allow vehicles to cross.

This has caused Link PNG to temporarily suspend all its flights to Tari airport, Southern Highlands as of Wednesday Feb 3, 2015.

However Link PNG in a statement said the company is closely monitoring the situation and will advise as to when the flights will resume.

Link PNG regret the inconvenience caused, however the situation is beyond their control.

Link PNG operates four weekly flights to Tari, every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

It is a subsidiary company of Air Niugini Limited.