Alan Bird

This was revealed by the Minister for State Enterprise William Duma after East Sepik Governor Alan Bird queried where the money was and why it was not used to address the ongoing power woes in the country including Wewak town.

Bird said Wewak town has been in the dark for 18 days now and wanted a short-term solution to the power problems there.

Providing a background of the situation on the ground, Bird said a total of six gen sets have failed with a new gen set not working. This has led to power blackouts affecting schools, hospitals, banks, etc.

“Mi sindaun na askim Sir Michael Somare, mi tokim em papa las minute, mi senism tingting na laik ron lo eleksen,” Alan Bird said.  (I sat with Sir Michael Somare and told him at the last minute that I have changed my mind; I am thinking of contesting in the elections.)

“Papa tupla eleksen mi salensim yu, mi laik sanap ken, yu ting wanem?” (Father, for two elections, I have challenged you and am thinking of standing again, what is your opinion?

“My personal success in agriculture and tourism has left me eager to help fellow Papua New Guineans increase their earning capacity from agriculture through improved productivity, marketing and value adding opportunities,” Bird said.

The candidate, when mandated after the June polls, will have to deal with the sensitive issue of Frieda Mine.