Bulolo

Bulolo Open

1. Sam Basil Jnr – 1,907
2. Russel Yakam – 664
3. Greg Konjip – 459
4. Noel Zasu – 245
5. Tae Guambelek – 172

Morobe Regional

1. Kemas Tomala – 1,711
2. Luther Wenge – 546
3. Joshua Menos – 414
4. Ginson Saonu – 386
5. Jennifer Baing – 219

Counting was suspended at 9pm yesterday (July 15^th). It is set to resume today (July 16^th) in Bulolo district.

During the presentation of police vehicles to Bulolo and Wau police yesterday, a women’s group took the opportunity to air their frustration at the Wau main oval.

Lawlessness has been a problem in Bulolo and Wau for over a decade.

The landowner group of the Hidden Valley mine, Nakuwi Association presented three new vehicles to the law and order and justice sector of the Bulolo and Wau-Waria districts in Morobe Province.

A vehicle each was given to the Wau and Bulolo police stations, and to Morobe’s magisterial services.

Valued at K1.2 million, Nakuwi Chairman, Rex Mauri said Wau and Bulolo have always been labelled as “cowboy towns” due to the severe deterioration of infrastructure and services, compounded with the influx of alluvial miners.

This follows the presentation of K3 million to contractor, Kaiaworks, to seal an extra 8km of the Gabensis to Buang road.

Just like the many other rural districts of PNG, Buang Rural LLG in Bulolo district struggles to access basic government services due to poor or a lack of infrastructure.

Twenty-five students in the district will be sponsored to attend the Divine Word University’s Kaindi Campus in Wewak, East Sepik Province next year.

Local MP and Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil, while attending to the burial of the Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in Wewak in March, made the undertaking after holding discussions with campus president Dr Ariockiraz Lawrence,

The survey identified 859 people with disabilities living in Bulolo District. Of these, just 161 had attended primary school, 33 had gone to secondary school and six had undertaken tertiary education.

Morobe Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee Secretariat Coordinator, Thelma Hungito, who helped organise the study, said the findings showed challenges faced by people living with disabilities in Morobe, particularly in rural areas.

This makes it easier for landowners and community members to discuss matters relating to the mine with Community Affairs staff.

“We’re very focused on being in touch with our communities, especially the mine villages which are Nauti, Kuembu, and Winima. It’s important to us that they are engaged and properly informed on the mine’s operations, and for us to be abreast of issues they have,” said Geoffrey Fahey, Manager, Social Performance and Communities.

Minister for Information and Communication and Energy, and Bulolo MP, Sam Basil, signed an MOA with Registrar, Michael Kumung, and on Thursday began the roll out.

The district is the first to partner the civil and identification registry, which plans to register four districts in PNG by the end of 2018.

Minister Basil and Registrar Kumung signed the MOA in the presence of media and guests.

The Paul Barrière Trophy was first taken around Bulolo Town as people lined the streets for a glimpse before it made a brief stop at the PNG Forest Products head office.

It was then taken to Harmony Gold’s Hidden Valley mine where company staff took photos and met with the tour team, made up of Oil Search staff, PNG National Rugby League and media.

Hidden Valley general manager, Gary Davies, said it was an historic occasion for the World Cup trophy to visit the mine staff and the people of Bulolo District.

Bulolo MP and Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil, who has brought tangible developments to his district since entering Parliament said his worry is now to address the issue that he said would affect service delivery to his electorate.

The no nonsense MP indicated when visiting the Family Health Association’s stall at the 6th annual Bulolo District Show on Saturday.