Pomio District

District administrator and Pomio District Development Authority Board CEO, Peter Peniat, made this statement at the opening of a renovated house for the resident medical officer at Warangoi rural hospital.

Peniat says though there are challenges, the DDA is working with the Open Member to continue to pursue development agendas.

He says there are a lot of important programs that need to be attended to in the district, which are gradually being addressed as funding is made available.

Health Minister Jelta Wong officiated at the event in the presence of New Zealand High Commissioner Phillip Taula.

Taula visited East New Britain from July 23 to the 26^th upon invitation by Minister for Health & HIV and Gazelle MP, Jelta Wong. The aim was for him to see some of the New Zealand funded projects in the province and identify potential opportunities for partnership.

The launch of the first of seven solar dryers over the weekend marks another milestone in helping farmers continue to meet the international standards required for global confectionary markets.

With an initial shipment of 500 kilograms of cocoa planned for delivery to Japan in the coming weeks, the solar dryers demonstrate how much needed incomes can be generated in an environmentally sustainable way.

These efforts were given a significant boost with a second K100,000 grant provided by the Pomio District Development Authority on June 20^th. This follows a previous investment made in September 2018.

This funding will support the continuing efforts of farmers in the Melkoi Local Level Government to construct a second solar cocoa dryer, enable their participation in the Cocoa Excellence show in Lae to showcase products and continue developing locally made chocolate.

The projects will be co-funded by Digicel PNG Foundation and the local member’s office and Minister for Public Service, Elias Kapavore.

Pomio is the first district in the 10^th government to work in collaboration with Digicel PNG Foundation to respond to the community’s health and education needs.

Digicel PNG Foundation CEO, Beatrice Mahuru, said the Foundation seeks opportunities to work together to leverage resources, share strengths, increase efficiency and reduce overlap to tackle PNG’s social issues.

The Papua New Guinea-Australia partnership will fund the Palmalmal Secondary School in Pomio District, which is one of Papua New Guinea’s least developed areas.

The upgrade of the school will be funded through a K3.5 million Incentive Fund grant and a K1 million counterpart contribution from the Pomio District Development Authority (DDA). 

Justice Panuel Mogish today found David Kumalau Pondros guilty of dishonestly applying to his own use and the use of others K5, 317, 375.16, money belonging to the Independent state of Papua New Guinea.

Chairman of the Investigation Task Force Sweep Team, Sam Koim and Director of National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Matthew Damaru were among those present in court today for the verdict.

Pondros is the Managing Director of David Consultants and Associates Ltd.

The call also goes to provincial and district administrations to take up the responsibility of protecting the people in affected SABL areas.

Customary landowner Anna Sipona from Malmal Village in Pomio District, East New Britain Province says every time they seek help and advice from the district administration and provincial government they get turned down.

Sipona said these government agencies and the local leaders are supposed to advise them on the right thing to do and help them get their concerns through to the Government.

“If we want change we must change our thinking and attitude.

“Get rid of backbiting and jealousy and return to God. Only God can change us and not any books that we read I tell you.”

Pastor Lupai said this during the signing of a Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (PPAP) agreement between Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) and private firm New Britain Resources Development Ltd and Co Partner Qaqet Stewardship Council Inc. The signing ceremony took place at Sinivit LLG headquarters in Pomio District on Friday 30 June, 2016.