Pomio

The funding support came through its District Subsidy Scheme that allows for the payment to its student’s tuition fees.

Member for Pomio, Elias Kapavore was on hand to present the cheque at the University of PNG main campus on Tuesday this week.

The Member was warmly welcomed by the Pomio students who are members of the East New Britain Students Association.

Pomio District has continued to support its students through Tertiary Students Support scheme for the past four years.

When applauding the State Solicitor for making clarifications over queries by the National Procurement Commission, Member for Pomio, Elias Kapavore, says the queries by the NPC were on whether the ADB should adhere to requirements under the National Procurement Act of 2018.

Kapavore says the hospital is fully funded by the ADB, to cost between 35 and 40 million kina, and will be constructed in eight phases.

He says after a 3-week delay, initial ground works should begin, as contract for the first phase has been awarded to the successful contractor.

Destined for its buyer, Tachibana Company in Japan, the 5 hundred kilograms of smoke taint free cocoa beans are the first of a total of 2 tons that will be delivered to the company.

This arrangement was made possible through assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) financial project under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that it facilitates in the country, through relevant government agencies.

The Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO) says the earthquake, which occurred about 40km South-West of Pomio, was a result of interaction between the South Bismarck and Solomon Plates.

“The earthquake was felt in Rabaul but no damage from this earthquake has been reported, however, communications in the Pomio area are challenging,” said the PMGO.

“Based on the available data, it is unlikely that this earthquake would have generated a tsunami. 

The MOU was signed on September 13^th between Elias Kapavore and the United Nations Development Programme.

With the MOU communities who are part of the Tavolo Wildlife Management Area, are now pioneering a new business venture that will see high quality cocoa exported directly to Japan.

Communities in Pomio district produce large amounts of cocoa but are isolated and lack access to transport infrastructure making it difficult to supply their products to international markets.

Communities in Pomio district produce large amounts of cocoa but are isolated and lack access to transport infrastructure, making it difficult to supply their products to international markets.

With the recent signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding, these communities who are part of the Tavolo Wildlife Management Area, are now pioneering a new business venture that will see high quality cocoa exported directly to Japan.

This is because in the 2012 elections, people in Pomio, especially in the Mamusi Rural LLG, refused to cast votes and threatened polling officials, says provincial police commander, Joseph Tabali.

And the reason for that?

“They said there were no government services in the area,” Tabali told Loop PNG.

“That’s why I am allocating four security personnel to one polling team for Mamusi. Other areas will only have two or three security escorts.”

Sipona comes from Malmal Village in west Pomio, East New Britain Province where logging has exploited their environment.

She explained that their forest is gone under SABL and the people in her village live as if they don’t own land.

The land in Malmal is under a 99-year lease agreement and they’ve been told by the developers that the land was now a state land.

Sipona highlighted that their drinking water and fresh water creeks have been contaminated because there are no buffer zones to protect them.

Promises by the Prime Minister to cancel the SABLs, stop illegal logging and to return the land to its rightful owners, as recommended by the commission have not been fulfilled.

Ignatius Matapia from Malakur Village in the Unung-Sigite SABL area says his people are still struggling to keep the logging company off their land.

“My people are defending their land against the logging company every day, mounting protests and building blockades.

The signed post cards petitioning the Government were presented by representatives from SABL affected areas organised by community advocacy group ACT NOW.

Paul Pavol from Mu village in Pomio, East New Britain Province led the group to deliver their grievances calling on the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Government to cancel the leases and stop SABL.

In June 2013, the SABL Commission of Inquiry revealed how government officers have facilitated the theft of over 50,000 square kilometres of land from customary landholders.