Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah

Sandaun Governor Amkat Mai questioned State Enterprise Minister William Duma if the state-owned PNG Power could connect Wutung to the Vanimo electricity grid.

Mai said the provincial government has already spent K1.2 million to purchase a diesel generator from Indonesia. However, it needs K8 million to connect the transmission lines to the country’s international border with the West Papua Province of Indonesia.

Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah was heard telling his provincial governor to allocate money to fund the project.  

Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah says he will write to the Police Commissioner's office for approval.

Petty crimes have increased within the town area and the youths within the nearby villages will be engaged to support police to provide security, says the MP.

He believes that engaging youths will help them earn an income to support themselves and their families.

The border rangers were introduced by the local member in 2009 to act as city rangers to keep the town area clean and stop petty crimes, but was stopped after controversial issues with the local police arose.

The matter that is listed on the Supreme Court fast track list came before directions on Monday (yesterday) where a hearing date was set.

The hearing will come before a full bench on May 30. Parties in the special reference were directed to file extracts of arguments by May 23.

The hearing will also deal with an application filed by the second defendant, the public prosecutor, Pondros Kaluwin who will be asking the Supreme Court to dismiss the special reference.