Rigo

When commemorating the World AIDS Day on December 1^st 2023 in Kwikila, the HIV/AIDS awareness team spoke to the communities about the importance and gravity of the disease. They were urged to come forward and be tested.

District HIV/AIDS coordinator, Peter Pahu told the gathering at Kwikila that since 2016 there has been an increase in people testing positive for HIV/AIDS.

He said according to statistics in Rigo, 2016 the district recorded only eight positive cases but as the years went by numbers have increased. In 2023, there were 212 people tested positive.

Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Timothy Masiu, unveiled the facility yesterday (30^th September 2023), marking a significant step towards bridging the digital divide in rural areas of PNG.

This inaugural project is part of the Smart Village project, a global initiative, now introduced to PNG through the government. It was made possible through the Department of Information and Communication Technology and Gabaspot, a local entrepreneur.

The road, now completed by Koya Investment Company Limited with funding from the provincial government.

Leaders of the surrounding areas expressed gratitude towards all stakeholders involved in the project, during a gathering at Dilikomana Village.

Acting Police Station Commander of Kwikila police station Sergeant Bobby Ogara added that unreported crimes, including sexual offences in North Rigo are on the rise because police could not access the area.

In addressing concerns affecting daily lives and budgets of countless Papua New Guineans regarding the soaring prices of rice, Rigo Rice have presented some key findings from trials conducted.

Rigo Rice found that:

1. Farming and costs before milling:

Average harvest per hectare was 6.7 tonnes of rice. Total cost of production excluding land and machinery, amounted to K5, 700. 00 per hectare. This translates to a cost of K.0.85 per kg of paddy rice.

The tournament saw eight women’s and 9 men’s teams that started in March, ending last weekend.

The purpose of this community sport is to get back the love of the game of volleyball and to see the change in the behaviour of the village youths. 

There were two divisions, male and female, with the women having eight teams while the men had nine teams. In the men’s division, the Expendables and Delight Power battled to get the winning trophy, while in the women’s division, it was Neighbours and the White Rose teams who contested.

Young Gele was traveling in the same boat as late Reverend Pene Ila and his wife Sina. The bodies of the pastor and his wife have been found. Unfortunately it has been a week of searching and there is still no sign of Gele.

The news of the passing of a United Church Pastor and his wife has saddened the district.

Rev. Ila from Keapara Village was serving in Kamali Village. He and his wife were traveling to Keapara to vote when they met their fate.

The 16 Grade 8 students including 10 male and six females, started their examinations on Monday 25^th October with English Paper 1, followed by Mathematics, Combined Subjects and ended the exams with the final English Paper 2 on Thursday October 28, 2021.

The school administration faced many challenges especially in the fourth term disrupting classes. Staff and especially the Grade 8 students had little time to prepare for the exams.

The new church building, worth more than one million kina, opened last Saturday in the presence of a large crowd from Kalo and neighbouring villages.

Pastor for the Kalo Church Salvation Army, Captain John Raga, acknowledged the project architect Late Robert Kapi for his effort in the building of the church till his passing.

He said 11 pioneers passed away during the building of the church while a member of the group and oldest serving soldier, Golo Doge, raised the flag during the opening.

National Planning Minister Richard Maru, whose department was instrumental in assisting with the formation of the District plan, challenged Rigo to make use of the abundance of land.

The Rigo District Development Plan was launched recently at the Laguna Hotel in Port Moresby.

The event was attended by senior government ministers, including Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

An elated member for Rigo, Lekwa Gure, thanked the efforts of all partners that were involved in the development of the five year plan.

Acting Secretary of the Department of Implementation and Rural Development, Aihi Vaki, wants reports and acquittals for Service Improvement Programs, 5 year development plans and non-discretionary funds to precisely show the link between decisions, development plans and implementation and how funds were used in these areas.

This, he says, is the basis of delivering tangible development.

Vaki said it is required by law that these reports and acquittals be submitted.