Highlands

The items were delivered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with national and provincial disaster centres in Papua New Guinea.

Working closely with local authorities in these provinces, IOM also delivered participatory health and hygiene awareness sessions in local communities and schools.

These areas were affected by violence and displacement. 

“Communities were torn apart by the fighting,” noted Evelyn Napit, a community member of Enga Province.

He said properties have been destroyed, innocent lives lost, with mothers and children caught in the cross fires of distorted right to power.

“Such unlawfulness has challenged the very core of freedom and democracy in our nation.

“We are at a cross roads where the rule of law is no longer adhered to. This mentality must not be tolerated nor entertained.”

Police Minister William Onglo said the security team deployed on Tuesday includes a squad from Mendi and a mobile unit in Hagen.

The deployment follows a meeting by the National Executive Council, which endorsed for early security operations in the entire Highlands region leading up to 2022 National General Elections. 

The farmers are also calling on the government to subsidize funding for established farmers to recover during the lockdown period.

Farmer in the Highlands region are calling on the Government to look into their plight and address the issue regarding the wastage of their produces.

Speaking on behalf of farmers, Win Moni a consistent Pathogen Tested (PT) Kaukau farmer from Mul district of Western Highlands said farmers were the hardest hit.

PPP Secretary General Moses Kar told Loop PNG that the main aim of the tour is strictly doing party awareness and identifying potential candidates for the 2017 elections.

He said all the executives alongside party leader Ben Micah have been participating in the awareness.

The awareness started last Friday in Mt Hagen with the former Prime Minister and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan launching his book ‘Playing the Game’.

Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch signed the deal with the Asian Development Bank’s Country Director Marcelo Minc on Thursday October 6, 2016.

The loan is part of the ongoing US$400 million (K1, 196.17m) multi-tranche financing facility road program that was approved since 2008.

These programs will address 2,500km of major national, provincial and some district roads and improve the capacity of National Roads Authority (NRA) and Department of Works to deliver quality road infrastructure. 

PPP General Secretary Moses Kar told Loop PNG from Simbu that the Highlands people have received Micah as their own.

Kar said an overwhelming crowd gathered at the Queens Park in Mt Hagen on Friday and welcomed Micah and his delegates to the province.

“The event was as fitting as Micah fits well among the old and young generation of Western Highlanders,” says Kar.

Accompanying Micah was PPP founder and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan.