Services

The City Mayor, Isidor Bonga expressed concern about the prevalence of political rhetoric that often touts basic services already provided by the government as achievements.

He stated that services such as education, healthcare, sanitation, roads, and electricity are fundamental rights that should not be boasted about. These services are already part of the government's responsibility to ensure the welfare of its citizens.

Protocol Officer Cynthia Wangama gave a brief run down of the current programs in implementation stages. Setting up an NID office and banking services are progressing well.

“These are the two main services that our people travel into town to access and by having them in the district, makes it easier and more convenient for the people of Rai Coast. Our member has a vision of bringing the township, in terms of services, into the district so that it minimizes the logistics and dangers associated with travelling into town,” Wangama said.

This was the question posed to public servants by Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President, Ishmael Toroama, during the 2023 dedication service yesterday.

“To answer this question, you first have to find your purpose in your role as a member of the Bougainville Public Service,” said the president.

“This applies to our leaders as well as our civil servants.

“Having a greater sense of purpose will influence how we carry out our duties, how we set our goals and the definitive direction that we wish to embark on.

Communities in Gulf are now taking ownership to establish a pathway for development.

And this is through the traditional structure system, which with modern influence, has since been broken down.

Assisting with this is Jungle Intelligence to oversee villages building back traditional landowner structures based on their customary landownership.

This structure follows options to partner with government and other agencies to build the needed services.

According to sources on ground in the province, most of the services have been disrupted since the weekend and still remains disrupted.

Police have been on high alert since the killings over the weekend.

Opportunists have taken advantage of the attacks on the weekend and this has caused much concern for security personals on ground. 

Meantime, the Police Commissioner who has been briefed about the situation in Mendi released a statement yesterday.

When officially opening the Provincial and Local Level Service Monitoring Authority (PLLSMA) conference in Port Moresby early this week, Lupari told the provincial administrators that they (public servants) were the drivers of the service delivery.

He said lack of money should not be an excuse.

“If services do not get to the people, the National Government and the leaders should not be blamed. We are responsible for delivery,” he told the Provincial administrators.

Speaking outside the court house to his supports, Tato said services in the province must flow and leaders must come out and work together despite the outcome of the court.

“Let the court deal with the case already before it, the people and services are more important. Service must flow,” he told them.

Tato was reinstated by the Supreme Court on Feb 15 as the Provincial Administrator after the Goroka District Court dismissed allegations of misconduct against him.