East Sepik Province

Yangoru-Saussia MP and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, said this is an important aspect of the work that needs to be completed in the next three months, and despite continuous rain slowing progress of the work it is continuing.

Mr Maru said he is hopeful that the Yangoru-Saussia Police Mobile Barracks will be up and running by this year, as major roads and drainage work around the premises commenced last week.

Mr Tamari said the suspects were caught with the drugs in a house in Musungwil Village, Drekikir LLG. The drugs were neatly packed and ready to be transported to Vanimo in Sandaun Province, and then onto Jayapura, Indonesia.

PPC Tamari said one of the suspects escaped while two were caught and transported to Maprik Police Station, where they are now being detained.

The suspect was alleged to have killed Nigel Hovi following an ongoing feud.

On February 12 the suspected murderer was caught and handed over to police by Mr Wafi and this prevented further fights in the area.

It was reported that the deceased was attacked by two suspects and sustained cuts to his body. Wewak Police stated that Hovi was hit by an oncoming vehicle while he was staggering on the road trying to seek help. The deceased was taken to Boram General Hospital but was pronounced dead.

By December 2022, the programme reports that they have supported farmers in Ambunti-Drekikier, Angoram, Maprik, Wewak, Wosera-Gawi.  

These support included 1286 cocoa farmers with the distribution of 84,299 cocoa pod borer (CPB) tolerant seedlings whilst supporting 586 vanilla farmers with the distribution of 10,000 quality and healthy vanilla vines.

In addition, the programme supported 150 inland fishers with the distribution of 800 fingerlings and built the capacity of 104 fishers in aquaculture/inland fisheries.

The road rehabilitation and specific maintenance provides improved access for the rural population in the Greater Sepik Region of 12,430.

The programme also reported the achievement of 40% physical progress in implementation of six (6) ongoing road rehabilitation and specific maintenance contracts in partnership with PNG UniTech.

According to East Sepik Provincial Police Commander Superientenat Christopher Tamari the Chinese Businessman namely Tuan Chen who owns the King's Club near the Old Airstrip near Nuiguo was arrested and charged with having in his possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Tamari said on December 11, 2021, he was arrested and charged under Section 27 (1) (a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 310. He further added that on December 16, 2022, Chen appeared at the Wewak District court and was convicted by the court.

The district produced over 9, 000 metric tons of cocoa last year, 2022, which amounts to 20 percent of PNG’s cocoa produced in one district.

Member for Yangoru-Saussia and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru thanked his people for their efforts and hard work in becoming the biggest cocoa producing district in the country. Minister Maru assured his people that Yangoru-Saussia district will invest more in cocoa this year.

East Sepik provincial police commander Superintendent Albert Beli said that the late Kufai was attacked in his own house by a known suspect brandishing a bush knife. Kufai allegedly died from blood loss after the suspect severely cut him in his lower left leg. Police alleged that Kufai’s attacker was intoxicated when he committed the crime.

Led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Banak-Wautogik road is one of two roads that will support farming communities involved in cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries production to access further markets with more rewarding prices, and open up rural communities for agribusiness opportunities.

Straight after the unveiling, local firm Hiawani Ltd who has been awarded the contract started with grading and clearing of the initial roads section.

Deputy Divisional Commander for Border Command, Chief Superintendent Sibron Papoto, said there were less or no reports of election-related incidents in the provinces, known as the border commands.
He said all these provinces have completed polling and are now into extraction of ballot boxes and into counting.
 
Wewak, Angoram, Wosera-Gawi and Ambunti-Drekikier are still in counting at their respective districts except for Ambunti-Drekikier, which is being counted in Maprik. Counting for the regional seat is at Moem Barracks, Wewak.