NCD Governor Powes Parkop

Lands Minister, Benny Allan, made the blunt statement on Thursday during a media conference in Port Moresby.

His comments follow several calls made by NCD Governor Powes Parkop, for the establishment of a NCD Land Board so that the NCDC can properly control and plan the development in the city.

Minister Allan said since the National Land Board is based in Port Moresby, there was no need to have a land board for NCD.

The announcement was made by NCD Governor Powes Parkop during the official opening of the highway today.

Parkop said it was only fitting that the highway be named after Sir William who has served the NCD as a former Governor, and the country as a former Opposition Leader and Prime Minister.

Among the dignitaries at the opening included Minister for Sports, Special Events and APEC Justin Tkatchenko and Minister for Health and HIV, Michael Malabag.

NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, made the presentation yesterday to Ginigoada Chairman, David Conn, on behalf of NCDC.

Governor Parkop said the Meri Seif Bus program has been a success and they earlier promised to the foundation both buses to continue the program.

Parkop said personally, he did not agree with having only women buses, likening it to segregation. However, he said the attitude of men and youths had to change.

He said this during the unveiling of the 3D Ela Beach Redevelopment Master Plan today.

Governor Parkop said the plan was not an overnight idea but one which was approved six years ago by the National Capital District Commission Board, and it was only fitting that it is implemented to coincide with the APEC and Paga Hill developments.

He clarified the project was not part of APEC but only using the opportunity created by the hosting of the summit.

This morning, hundreds of people, including Governor Powes Parkop, were turned away from the gates of The Ela Murray International School.

According to organisers, only those with white shirts distributed were allowed to enter the school field for the yoga session.

After some minutes trying to reason with them, Governor Parkop, who was in a blue T-shirt, and the rest of the walk for life participants, left.

 Officially launched by NCD Governor Powes Parkop last week, two primary schools, Lontis Primary School and Petats primary, are the first two schools to have little doctors.

The Little Doctors concept is similar to the ones first introduced in India and Bangladesh and recently in Indonesia, in the aftermath of tsunamis that devastated these countries.

The school, which caters for over 1000 students, now has a proper assembly hall for staging examinations, school concerts, meetings and studies.

Some of the 20 classrooms are brand new while others have been refurbished and modernised.

School principal Herman Panai thanked the Moresby South electorate and the National Capital District Commission for funding the infrastructure of the school. 

Panai said the school is currently facing a lot of challenges, including infrastructure development and shortage of teachers’ houses.

Zemings statements follow an advertorial by Sir Mekere Morauta announcing a potential return to politics.

He is the first key government Minister and second Parliamentarian to hit back at Sir Mekere’s announcement, after NCD Governor Powes Parkop.

In a statement, Zeming said Sir Mekere’s record at government was not as rosy as he was painting and that he was part of the Government between 1999 and 2002.

Parkop says with the growing population in Port Moresby and the large number of primary and elementary schools, there’s a need for more secondary schools.

The National Capital District currently has 16 secondary schools and 34 primary schools.

Out of the 16 secondary schools, only five are government schools while the others are church-run and private schools.

Parkop said the number of secondary schools is totally inadequate compared to the number of primary schools.

The late Ruby Laufa passed away at the Port Moresby General Hospital on Saturday, February 11, at 3.30pm.

She was 24 at the time and would have celebrated her 25th birthday on February 13. The late Ruby was the Miss South Pacific PNG 2012-2013.

Laufa leaves behind her father, Maurice, from Gulf Province, her mother, Hane Sepi Nouairi-Schaaf, of Central Province and Tongan-German blood, and her younger sisters, Sherridan and Rhani Villie-Maina.

Parkop said, “It’s very tragic that she passed away the way that she did.