Jiwaka

PPC Korin said first phrase of the operation started on the 8^th and will end on the 14^th of December in South Wagi electorate.

The second phase will commence on the 15^th to 20^th December in North Wagi electorate including Jimi.

The third phase will begin on 21^st December to January 5^th 2024, which will include the change of police operation to mobile policing mode.

“The purpose of changing the police operation is to ensure police patrol all the districts within the province,” he said.

Through programs such as PHAMA Plus and Market Development Facility, Australia is assisting farming communities in the province to develop high-value coffee to export.

When visiting Jiwaka in September, High Commissioner Jon Philp met with coffee growers and exporters to hear their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in exporting quality coffee.

Through Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the Partnership is also supporting commercial production and the marketing of sweet potato for export from the Highlands region.

Telape said the frustrated people of Hagen Central blocked off the highway and are demanding the reinstatement of Willie Ropa as the Returning Officer for Hagen Open.

Mr Telape told this newsroom that he will get more verification on the situation.

The Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) now has an office at the Jiwaka provincial headquarters at Kurumul.

The office was officially opened on January 11^th by Jiwaka Governor, Dr. William Tongamp, and Commissioner General of IRC, Sam Koim.

The office was allocated by the Jiwaka Provincial Government as part of its objective to empower and benefit from revenues generated by IRC in the province.

IRC assigned three officers to Jiwaka and also delivered a new Toyota Land Cruiser to support the work in Jiwaka.

The rehabilitated road, in the Kapalku Nambkora LLG of Jiwaka Province, is expected to open up market access for coffee growers from eight villages, including major villages such as Napalm, Engendered, Malang and Ngumkora.

It is also expected to give more than 5,000 rural people access to social services.

The road starts at the turn off from Banz to Kiriwil along the old Highlands Highway and links up with the Millep-Norba back road connecting to Nondugul station.

The road will also service Lutheran Mission Station, Ngenda Common School and SDA Mission at Ngenden.

Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, says polling will go ahead after the Provincial Election Manager advised  those who raised issues that the 2017 final roll was not too different to the former.

Jiwaka Province also goes to the polls on Tuesday.

Initiall y some polling venues wanted to be changed, however, Gamato said according the organic law where a polling place is gazzetted it cannot be changed or abolishmed before the issue of writs or before the writs are returned.

Election Manager, Rossie Pandihau, says the commencement of polling in the Province will depend on when polling in Simbu Province has been completed.

Polling in Jiwaka Province is scheduled for June 30.

Ms Pandihau said preparations for polling are now well on track however, the delay in polling for Simbu Province might affect them as well. This is because security forces in Simbu will move to Jiwaka once polling is completed in the former.

Pandihau says they are currently doing quality checks and pre-counting the ballot papers.

This decision was made by Chairman for the Inter-departmental Election Committee, Isaac Lupari, who gave assurance that he will be assisting to make this happen.

This comes after the election manageress for Jiwaka province, Rossie Pandihau raised serious concerns about the long overdue absence of the provincial treasurer who is believed to be in the nation’s capital at the moment.

Polling officials in Jiwaka are yet to access election funds for the training of their election officials for polling.

According to the Election Manager, the training for polling officials and the presiding officers was scheduled to be conducted a week ago.

Jiwaka Election Manager Rossie Pandihau is pleading for the Provincial Treasurer to return to Jiwaka as soon as possible to release the funds allocated for the training. 

She says the training is vital for the 900-plus polling officials, including the 300-plus presiding officers and assistant presiding officers, so they understand the process well before being deployed to polling sites.