Central Province

76 elementary schools and 39 primary schools are greatly affected by the shortage of water.

From an assessment carried out by school inspector Ken Soeu last week, most of the water tanks are empty and water wells contaminated due to the low water levels.

Soeu said 99 percent of the schools rely on water wells so they have been asked to scale down operations to save the remaining little water source for  the upcoming grade eight exams.

He advised schools to allow grade 7 and grade 8 students to remain in class and teachers to be on official duty.

Police have maintained a presence in the area after fighting broke out between two enemy tribes over outstanding compensation claims.

Police report that there were eleven injuries with two deaths reported from the fighting that lasted a week.

Three houses were burned as a result of the fight.

Police have also arrested five men in relation to the fights, after the suspects were caught with two unlicensed shotguns and an unregistered pistol.

All the men will be charged with possession of a deadly weapon.

The village is facing a shortage of water supply following the dry weather which has emptied water tanks and wells are drying up.

Despite that, the students are working hard to pass their exams.

School head master John Wasigui said teachers were working with the 29 grade eight students doing   remedial exercises for an one hour after school.

“After three mock exams, we have highlighted some weakness areas in various topics which the teachers are emphasising during remedial classes. 

Most of their water wells are starting to dry up and food gardens are not producing enough.

The change in weather pattern is also having an impact on their fishing livelihood with the strong winds preventing them from going out to sea.

Village elder Hosea Daure told Loop PNG that the villagers hadn’t started off preparing the new ground for planting because the soil was very hard.

Daure said the seedlings were also drying out, making it difficult for them to be replaced.

Central is the 21st province the baton has visited and today marked 91 days of the baton’s 100 days journey throughout the country.

The baton is spending four days in the province before it is handed over to the National Capital District on June 29.

An official welcome ceremony was held at Laloki High School today as the baton was displayed for the people and the Central Provincial Government to see.

Haoda urged the people of Central to welcome the Relay team and happily get involved in the relay.

The Relay will spend the next few days touring the coastal and inland villages of Central.

Central is the last province the baton will visit before it makes its way into the nation’s capital on 29 June.

The baton flew by chopper over Papa/Lealea villages, LNG site and Tapini in the Goilala District before landing at Bereina station in Kairuku.

 It will then relay back to Veimauri before retiring to Port Moresby.