Gazelle District

K50,000 For Copra Price Support

This follows a decision by the Gazelle District Development Authority to support copra farmers through price support funds for dry copra farmers paid directly to them through existing buying points.

Member for Gazelle, Jelta Wong presented a cheque of K50,000 to Green Bay Buying Point on Saturday 21st of October.

He said almost 60 percent of copra farmers in the Gazelle district sell their produce to Green Bay Buying Point and this support is for farmers.

Life Skills Training Concludes

The 46 locals graduated recently with certificates in basic life skills after completing a three-months program conducted by East New Britain life skills.

Mandres ward member, Samuel Tom said in order to control illegal activities in his ward, and he decided to partner with ENB Life skills to conduct the training for youths.

“When youths leave school and couldn’t find jobs, they engage in illegal activities because they do not know how to be productive in their community. Therefore, I think it is important to be equipped with life skills,” Mr Tom said.

Gaulim health post upgrade

Member for Gazelle and Health Minister, Jelta Wong announced recently that the plan to redesign the facility has been approved and construction work to be undertaken by contractor Hoam Builders will start this month.

He said the project is worth K4.5 million and was awarded last month under the Health Services Sector Development Project (HSSDP) and financed under the partnership of Asian Development Bank, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and PNG Government.

Gazelle District Presents Acquittals

The district presented its district support grants (DSG) and district service improvement program (DSIP) funds and presented acquittal of log export development levy (LEDL) to the Minister for Forestry, Walter Schnaubelt.

The acquittals covered 2019- 2020 DSIP, DSG and LEDL funds and 2018 DSG.

Gazelle MP stresses on self-reliance

He made this undertaking when he delivered a boat each to Kabakada and Kuraip wards in Livuan Reimber LLG, and an oven to mothers at Napapar 2 in Central Gazelle LLG on Saturday, February 6th.

Minister Wong pointed to the proverb: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

He said the Gazelle district is keen to discourage handouts believing that it is detrimental to sustainable development.

Gazelle roadworks continue

In the past two weeks, sections of roads at Iatapal in Livuan-Reimber LLG, the stretch of road from the Gazelle district office to NARI and Napapar in Central Gazelle were graded with drainage works done.

The works are being carried out by the civil sector under the Gazelle Business Corporation Limited (GBCL).

Due to numerous potholes along Napapar 4 that are hard to fill, the old bitumen was ripped off and graded again with drainage put in place.

Work progressing on Paparatava Health Centre

The decision to relocate the facility from its existing location at Paparatava in Toma to Varzin along the main Kokopo-Toma/Kerevat Road in Vunadidir LLG was not only influenced by limited space for expansion but also to improve accessibility to a greater population that commute daily using the New Britain Highway.

Member for Gazelle, Jelta Wong, says it is critical for people to have access to improved healthcare services in a modern facility, particularly mothers and children.

New bank accounts for Gazelle locals

It was a rare occurrence as officers from commercial banks hardly visit the rural communities to conduct awareness on their products.

This recent event was made possible through an arrangement made by the Office of the Gazelle MP, Jelta Wong, ward member Kevin Polos and BSP to bring banking to those living in rural communities.

Locals paid K5 each to open a new account. Students and children were also able to create accounts under the Kids and Sumatin schemes for K2 each.

New beds for Gazelle health facilities

A total of 110 single beds with mattresses are part of a donation from the Office of the Member for Gazelle and now Civil Aviation Minister, Jelta Wong, to PHA identified rural health facilities and St Mary’s Vunapope Hospital in Kokopo and Nonga Base General Hospital in Rabaul district respectively.

Minister Wong said this is one of many activities the Gazelle District is taking to improve patients’ care.

Health technical team visits Gazelle facilities

This is for compliance with the Health Department’s approved facility standards.

Following a recent meeting with the ENB Provincial Health Authority CEO, Dr. Ako Yap, and his Senior Executive Management Team and District Administrator, Allan Balbal, the Minister for Health and HIV-AIDS and Member for Gazelle, Jelta Wong, made an undertaking to immediately deploy a technical team from the National Department of Health to East New Britain.