Southern Highlands Province

Hides PDL 1 landowners say they are eager to finally benefit from the LNG Project.

However, they want the Government to stick to the schedule that the state has outlined in the roll out of the program or else there will be consequences.

In a media conference today, the landowners said it has been a long time coming for the landowner identification to be completed.

They said they were happy with the announcement and will work with the government to ensure that the process is completed.

This is part of phase two of Oil Search’s drought relief program with the opening of a Hebaiya water project this month.

The effects of the 2015 El Nino induced drought brought many challenges to numerous communities living within the Oil Search operational areas.

For the villages of Hebaiya, having access to safe drinking water is a dream come true.

Lake Kutubu Local Level Government president, John Pipi Kila, thanked Oil Search and urged the village of Hebaiya to take ownership of the water project.

According to sources on ground, the situation has remained unchanged since the killing of the police officers.

The two policemen were killed in a daylight ambush on Sept 30, 2017, while another officer was wounded.

In fear of their lives, Police in Mendi are now moving around in civilian wear.

Sources state that since the killing, Mendi is yet to see services return to normal.

Shopping centres, business houses, Air Niugini and even BSP remain closed, forcing public servants to travel out to other provinces to use and make transactions.

Over the years, the impact of this invisible tug-of-war has left a generation of confused youth.

With not much development and less empowerment, the local population is geared toward a contemporary lifestyle, proving to be more dangerous overtime.

But the communities of Kutubu LLG are no longer waiting for government intervention.

Local authority figures have encouraged youth groups to take the social responsibility in keeping the young generation in line.

One such group is the Kutubu Theater Youth Group formed in 2004.

Commissioner Baki told Loop PNG this morning that the killings were ridiculous and unnecessary.

“We are losing policemen’s lives for unnecessary reasons. These people do not have any dignity for life, let alone care about human life at all.”

Believed to be election-related, Baki said it is obvious that these were supporters of the losing candidate.

“These officers don’t even know that these people are supporters of the losing candidate or if they were disappointed about the declaration of William Powi.”

The incident was allegedly instigated by a woman vendor at one of the community markets just near the settlement.

The clash started yesterday and is still ongoing between two communities from Mt Hagen and Pangia.

Police are now at the scene as situation is very tense, while the two sides are armed with dangerous weapons.

Gerehu police station commander, Robert Kurei, confirmed with TVWAN that two were killed yesterday while a number of injuries have been reported.

The deceased are from Pangia, Southern Highlands Province.

The theme for this year’s festival is “My Song, My Dance, My Story, Saving my home for tomorrow”.

Two fun-filled days are planned to mark the 7^th festival.

Exquisite traditional dances and singsing from all parts of Southern Highlands and neighbouring provinces will be showcased.

Featured over the 2 days also will be canoe racing,  contemporary performances, rich cultural activities, arts and crafts displays and demonstration of the Digaso oil and trading links between Kutubu and Kikori.

The leaders, who travelled to Port Moresby to deliver the petition, said counting has been marred by the illegal conduct of unauthorised individuals, which has resulted in violence and destruction.

The leaders claim that out of 648 ballot boxes counted so far, only 462 were legally counted, 84 boxes illegally set aside, and 101 boxes counted by an illegal Returning Officer, Francis Akol, appointed by David Wakias.

The leaders called on Gamato to have the remaining 83 boxes counted and the purported 101 illegal boxes disregarded.