East Sepik Province

Schneider Bishop of Biwat area, Angoram, East Sepik Province, returned to the Waigani Committal Court today where a ruling was made in the case against him.

Himself and four others, Solomon Gonol, Paul Michael, John Sabol 'Ala' and Jack Joe Hora, were arrested and charged over the armed robbery, which took place between 11.30am and 12midday at Harbour City at Konedobu on May 18, 2016.

It is alleged the five, armed with factory made pistols, held up the staff and customers of Daikoku restaurant and stole cash and items valued at K2,752.

Basil expressed his concern over recent remarks made by Pangu Pati supporters during his provincial visit to East Sepik this week.

Basil said, the nationwide support for Pangu Pati is apparent. We are building and reinforcing our stand as a political party so that we can fulfill our ultimate objective of seeing a significant political change after the 2017 Parliamentary elections. In the process my team is building sustainable platforms for our values and ideas to embed amongst a growing and changing series of demographics in Papua New Guinea.

Police in Wewak are assisting the Correctional Service in locating the remaining inmates who are still on the run.

Correctional Service Commissioner Michael Waipo says funds are yet to be processed as accounts have just recently been opened for 2017.

The investigation team will be given only a week to carry out investigations into the breakout.

In the meantime, police and CS officers are working together to recapture the other remaining inmates who are still at large.

The matter was adjourned and remitted to the registry after parties brought to the Supreme Court’s attention that there is a misunderstanding amongst the parties regarding one of the orders that was issued in the October Supreme Court sitting.

The order, which parties have misinterpreted, is regarding the planting of oil palm, and any associated activities in relation to oil palm planting on the land after the high court upheld the National Court’s decision to revoke the SABL.

Any Government today and in future must invest between K1.5 billion and K2 billion, or 10 percent of the national budget every year, to grow the agriculture sector. This is if PNG wants to survive as a strong and healthy economy, he says.

Minister Tomscoll was speaking during the commissioning of the new rice milling machine in Angoram, East Sepik Province, last Wednesday (Nov 23).

“Food is the number one business in the world. Food alone is the biggest tradeable commodity in the world today.

The people of Kamatogu village have expressed gratitude to the local member and Minister for Trade Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru, for recognizing their need to have road access.

These people have had no road or access to basic services like health and education for the past 41 years.

Children walk kilometers to attend schools and the sick die along the road whilst walking distances to seek medical treatment.

The people of Turubu LLG in the Wewak District and half of Sausso LLG, in the Yangoru-Sausia district, have given developers, Limawo Holdings of the Sepik Oil Palm project, a grace period of 30 days to vacate the 116, 144 hectares of customary land. The area has been restored to them by the Courts.

All motor vehicles, light and heavy machines, personnel and chattels that are movable are to vacate or be moved out from SABL 144c, including the logging sites and oil palm sites.

Permanent structures, including houses, may be dismantled within 30 days.

The festival will be staged at Indingai village in Chambri Lakes located in the Wosera/Gawi District of East Sepik Province.

Chairman of the festival fundraising committee Roy Sinde said they have extended invitations to other districts and villages throughout the province to be part of this event.

Sinde said there’re indications that groups from Drekikier and Angoram districts will be part of the festival.

Preparations are well underway for Sepik festival with fundraising events being hosted to raise over K50,000 to stage the festival.

The festival will be held at Indingai Village in Chambri Lakes, located in the Wosera/Gawi District, from October 28-30. It is one of the festivals NCC is involved in.

The festival aims to maintain and promote cultures associate with Spirit Houses in life form in Middle Sepik area of ESP.

NCC acting executive director Casper Damien said NCC has the responsibility to support events that preserve, protect, safeguard, develop and promote PNG’s diverse culture and arts.

Damien said by doing so, it helps maintain unity and national pride.

Minister Maru said this when he officiated at a ground breaking ceremony for two new roads in his district last week.

The roads include Negrie to Tangori Road, which will be constructed at a cost of K800,000, and Negrie to Baimuru Road, to be constructed at a cost of K350,000.

Minister Maru said work on six other roads are currently in progress and in the next few weeks, the district will be issuing contracts for another three more roads.