Enga Province

The plan was revealed on April 29^th during the 4^th Graduation of the Enga College of Nursing at Sopas campus, outside Wabag.

When announcing the initiative, South Bougainville MP and Minister for Information Technology and Communication, Timothy Masiu, said he will start sending students to undergo nursing and teacher training at Enga College of Nursing and University of Goroka – Enga Campus, starting next year.

This follows the commissioning of the provincial government project on Thursday, April 30^th.

Sir Peter Ipatas and his guest, South Bougainville MP and Minister for Information Technology and Communication, Timothy Masiu, officially commissioned the project that would benefit the residents of Lakemanda and Yampu.

The Lakemanda-Yampu electrification project was started in 2015 with similar undertakings at Mukuramanda to Tsak valley, Mambisanda, Sopas road junction to Sakarip and Sari to Kaiap with funding sourced solely by the Enga Provincial Government.

Posting on his Facebook wall, Marape asked all Papua New Guineans to bear with him as the government works through the transitional period of the Enga Province mine.

“Short term pain for long term gain; don’t be crybabies and pessimists,” the PM said.

“The Government’s decision was tantamount to nationalisation without due process and in violation of the Government’s legal obligations to BNL,” said the operator in a statement.

BNL said it remained willing to discuss the issue with Prime Minister James Marape and his Government in the hope of averting what it described as a catastrophic situation for the communities at Porgera and in Enga, and for the country as a whole.

The penalty for breaking this directive includes K5,000 fine for individuals who are found guilty of transporting and selling buai, while K10,000 will be imposed on owners of vehicles who assist traders.

On Tuesday, April 14^th, 19 provincial assembly members voted in favour of doing away with the nut. This includes three Parliamentarians; Kandep MP Alfred Manase, Kompiam-Ambum MP Sir John Thomas Pundari and Enga Governor, Sir Peter Ipatas.

Under the partnership, a four year degree program in secondary teachers’ training will be provided.

The MoA was signed in Wabag on Friday.

It was a milestone event held at the Wabag Primary School.

Cultural dancing and singing was on display to welcome dignitaries from the Enga Provincial Government, University of Goroka, Department of High Education, and provincial and local level government officials.

Noting the high costs of remote area aviation services, BNL has provided funding to allow for up to a year of significant price reductions for travel to and from the rural airstrips on MAF aircraft within Enga Province. Two months into the year-long subsidy scheme, there has been enthusiastic uptake by the remote communities.

Peter O’Neill addressed locals and stressed that good leadership and cooperation can only see these vital projects come to fruition.

Diplomatic representatives of Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the United States accompanied the Prime Minister, the Governor for Enga and other state ministers, most of whom are local MPs of the province – to launch the project, where an overwhelming welcome to Tsak Valley was displayed for the guests.

Tsak Valley, in Wapenamanda, Enga Province, is where the K5.2 billion rural electrification program starts.

This week the Porgera miner carried out maintenance work on the Aipulungu Bridge – one of the two bridges that connect Paiam Township to Porgera Station and the Porgera Gold Mine.

The PJV roadworks team on February 23^rd removed the damaged bridge deck planks on the Bailey Double Single Reinforced – 7 Bay bridge, removed damaged stringers, and placed new stringers followed by the new deck planks before reopening the bridge to motorists.

Senior Engineer Josiah Kunai said the maintenance work was carried out after an inspection of the bridge by the PJV team.

With a lot of law and order issues, especially from tribal fighting taking place in the province, PPC Chief Superintendent Joseph Tondop said this festive season has been challenging.

Enga province has had its fair share of law and order issues, from mass killings to ethnic violent tensions, and now issues near the Porgera gold mine area, where illegal miners threaten workers’ safety.