Kevin Isifu

Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Kevin Isifu, says the SME facility will be established once land is identified.

The Minister responsible for the Wutung Border Post in West Sepik says an international bus service and terminal have also been proposed.

The SME facility will accommodate locals at the border to sell their goods to visiting Indonesians.

“We will properly identify the area that they (SMEs) can be able to do their marketing. So the SME business will be relocated as soon as we find the land,” Isifu said.

Minister for Inter-Governent Relations, Kevin Isifu, says the SME facility will be established once land is identified.

The minister responsible for the Wutung Border Post in West Sepik says an international bus service and terminal is also proposed.

The Minister said the SME sector will be established once a proper location is identified.

The SME Facility will accommodate locals at the border to sell their goods to visiting Indonesians.

Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Kevin Isifu, revealed this during the three-day Government fact-finding mission to West Sepik Province.

He said this is one of the major contributors to the cash flow shortage in the country.

Minster Isifu said trade from both sides of PNG-Indonesia border is unbalanced.

“We have one side trading off our currency and business activity. Over K750,000 Papua New Guineans spend over the border, money going over to Indonesia,” he stated.

Minister Isifu said this is something that he will look into.

The review comes under the Special Purposes Authority and administered by the Ministry and Department.

The Kokoda Track Authority was established under section 42 of the Local Level Government Administration Act 1997.

It aims to help implement projects and manage benefits derived from the Kokoda Trail to best serve the communities and villages along the track, both in Central and Northern provinces.

“Over the years we have received a lot of complaints from landowners and respective players to review the arrangement,” explained Minister Isifu.

Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Kevin Isifu, announced in Parliament last week that this is part of the upgrade to ensure the service is prepared to deal with fires.

Isifu said many homes were lost due to fires however, the Fire Service lacked the support to deal with the issue.

“Considering that APEC and other important meetings are coming up, the Government is set to getting and re-fleeting trucks all around our country.

“We are ready to bring in 22 new fire trucks to replace and re-fleet the rundown trucks around the country.

This was confirmed by the Minister for Inter-Governmental Relations and Member for Wewak Open, Kevin Isifu, during the launch of the Kadovar Appeal at Murray Barracks, Port Moresby, on Friday.

He said two major issues have been identified and will have to be rectified by this weekend.

The first is to identify and pay the landowners, which will cost up to K300,000.

“This is to make sure the land is being organised for the people of Kadovar to be relocated to,” Isifu stated.

The centre for relief supplies was launched on Friday by Minister for Inter-Government Relations and Member for Wewak, Kevin Isifu, along with the director for the National Disaster Center, Martin Mose.

Isifu thanked stakeholders for making sure that the people of Kadovar are safe and that the disaster has been managed properly.

“We have now brought the necessary relief supplies to the island and have taken care of the needs of the displaced people of Kadovar Island.”

Minister Isifu, along with a government delegation, were in Wewak yesterday to visit the islanders on Ruprup Island as well as meet with landowners on the mainland to secure a resettlement site.

The Government delegation consisted of the East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird, Defense Minister, Solan Mirism and Minister for Mining, Johnson Tuke.

Minister Isifu says a 30 hectare piece of land has been identified for purchase at Dandan along the Turubu east coast area, East Sepik.

Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Kevin Isifu, said financial impediment has resulted in the closure of the commission for about a year or two.

Minister Isifu said financial constraint is the main concern that the Government will be looking into to resurrect the very important body within the Electoral Commission.

He said one of the main challenges as well was the location of the electorates.  

“Many electorates have raised the concern but because of funding constraints, work has been put on hold.”

The petition was filed by former MP, Jim Simatab, challenging Kevin Isifu’s election as Wewak open MP.

Simatab is alleging instances of bribery against Isifu in the petition.

The matter went before Justice Collin Makail today where it was fix for five days trial commencing January 15, 2018.

The trial will be held at the Wewak National Court. A judge will be allocated to preside over the trial soon.