Maprik

General Manager Mark Worinu and his technical team were in the district at the invitation of Maprik MP and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock John Simon on the weekend.

Speaking to a huge crowd at Sologun village of Yamil Tamawi LLG, Mr Worinu said FPDA was happy to be a long-term partner with East Sepik province to provide training and expertise on the indigenous and introduced crops for commercial production.

The surrender was part of an agreement reached by community leaders, mobile squad (MS) 13 and the Maprik Police during a mediation on June 20^th following a community unrest that almost saw the closure of the Balupwina Primary School.

Investigation by police had 10 school boys face charges, and also led to the identification of the root of the riot, which was alcohol related.

The brewers and producers were given a three-day grace period starting on the 20^th.

Kambaki stated this following the induction of 24 professional stage primary school teachers who passed out in 2018.

She said the teaching profession deals with the first stages of a child’s life and it is important that teachers are well aware of their code of ethics and professionalism.

The 24 yet-to-register teachers were taken through the importance of being in a position of trust.

Kambaki said one major concern is teacher-student affairs.

O’Neill told a huge crowd that the government will build a market in Maprik, upgrade the Hayfield airport and seal the town area.

At the opening of a K4 million health centre in Maprik, the PM said the project, which is co-funded by ADB, AusAID and the national and provincial governments, is a new initiative by the government to bring services right into the community.

Local MP John Simon announced this at the opening of a week-long sports program for primary school children in the district recently.

Students from all over Maprik, currently on school term break, flocked the town to mark the occasion.         

The independence games started on Tuesday, in Maprik town.

The first two teams to go head on in the first match were the Maprik Catholic and Motunge primary schools.

Eight primary schools are competing in Soccer, Volleyball and Rugby league.

This initiative follows agreements by the university and district to offer selected courses in the resource centre in Maprik, East Sepik Province.

District CEO Joshua Himina said he is pleased with this initiative and for the University of Goroka to be the first to come through is a stepping stone not only for the district but throughout the provinces.

Students are eager to learn and or further their education however, the absence of facilities makes it difficult for them.

The trial hearing that was to take place in Wewak will not eventuate now after the court today found the petition incompetent, stopping it simply because Yangwari failed to comply with Form 1 of the 2017 specific Election Petition rules.

Yangwari also failed to state material facts in the petition to support the numerous allegations of bribery and illegal practice stated in the petition.

Last week Simon, through his lawyer Tony Waisi, asked the court to dismiss the petition and stop it from proceeding to trial because specifics were not stated in the petition.

Speaking during his declaration on Saturday, Simon also welcomed his fellow contestants to work in partnership with him to develop Maprik District in East Sepik Province.

"The people of Maprik have spoken because of my leadership," Simon said.

He dedicated his win to all the people of the district and made a commitment to be fair in the delivery of service delivery and infrastructure development.

Simon was declared at 3:20pm in Maprik town yesterday.

He is also the chairman of the project steering committee. 

“Any project we will not displace any traditional landowners because the land is very large and does not have people sitting on it,” Andrias said.

He added that the project is a National Government funded project and currently the government is building basic infrastructures like roads and electricity lines to the project site for investor to start its feasibility studies.    

“Basic infrastructures and law and order is a prerequisite for the investor to settle and invest,” Andrias said.

Member for Maprik, John Simon, asked Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Tommy Tomscoll in Parliament on Thursday of the whereabouts of a thousand cattle heads that were supposed to go to Wewak.

He said the previous Government had purchased just over 4,000 cattle heads from Markham in Morobe Province, which were supposed to be sent to several province, including East Sepik.

“Can the minister tell us where those cattle are?” asked Simon.