Southern Highlands

Acting SHP Provincial Administrator, Joseph Cajetan, says the province lacks tangible development because the engine room lacks coordination.

“Our provincial head office and the public servants are not in order,” reiterated Cajetan.

“To begin with, the second-storey of the office is condemned. There is no electricity and water. Public servants are in their houses and villages while others are roaming around in other parts of the country,” added Cajetan.

He said getting the office in order is his immediate task however, financial constraints is the biggest setback.

Kutubu LLG President John Kila said relief supplies have been flowing but really need water for cooking.

Kila in a media briefing on Thursday thanked Oil Search and Mineral Resources Development Authority for their tireless effort in helping the people of Kutubu.

He said without the help from such companies and the Government, people of Kutubu will severely affected by the disaster.  

“We are thankful that such big companies are there to help our people.

“Without them, most of our people will be affected.”

The troops are from the First Royal Pacific Island Regiment at Taurama.

Yesterday they were flown out by the Australian Hercules C130 from the PNGDF Air Transport Wing at Jackson’s International Airport

On their way to the two disaster provinces, the first 35 troops were inserted into Hela from Komo airport while the next 35 troops bound for Southern Highlands have been inserted from Hagen.

They will be traveling by road to Southern Highlands from Mt Hagen.

Among the troops that were deployed are 10 specialist combat military trained medical personnel.

From communication with locals in the area, this newsroom has gathered that:

Siane Falls village in the Bosavi area, Southern Highlands, reported four collapsed buildings, while most of their houses are on the verge of falling down. 

Landslides were experienced there but thankfully, no deaths. 

All Soro Moro people gathered at the supermarket as of 10pm last night. There has been heavy rain, thunder and lightning, but no wind. 

“People are really scared,” Loop PNG was told.

The launch of the district training roll-out coincided with the commencement of two PNGIPA short courses for district-level public servants.

More than 30 public servants from District Development Authorities will attend the courses over two weeks, including participants from the districts of Ialibu-Pangia, Nawaeb (Morobe), Nuku (West Sepik), Sohe (Northern) and Talasea (West New Britain).

The quake had a depth of 35 kilometres, hitting at about 4am local time, according to the USGS.

The quake struck in the heart of mainland PNG in Southern Highlands province.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the quake did not present a regional tsunami threat.

About a half an hour later, a second earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 struck in the same area. It had a depth of 39 kilometres.

PNG rests on the 'Ring of Fire', a known hotbed of seismic activity due to a tectonic plate that spans the Pacific.

Ialibu-Pangia Returning Officer, Michael Ariando, told Loop PNG this morning that all ballot boxes will be extracted to Mendi today and tomorrow.

Ariando added that about nine ballot boxes in the remote area of Ialibu-Pangia will be extracted today to Ialibu station before transporting them to Mendi.

He said the weather pattern in the province has also affected polling, which resulted in the late extraction of the ballot boxes.

However, despite the late polling in some areas, voting has been peaceful since Sunday, July 2.

Residents at Mahuru village, Port Moresby, alleged that the men were drinking together when a fight started, which eventually led to the death of a Southern Highlander.

In retaliation, a group of Southern Highlanders mobilised and started breaking into homes from the centre of Mahuru village.

A number of distraught women and children ran to seek refuge at the nearby Air Niugini village.

Movements in out of the Air Niugini residency were stopped till the fight died down at around 9:20am.

The awareness was on family planning, Tuberculosis (TB) and the dangers of illegal drugs, alcohol abuse and violence.

The Oil Search Foundation (OSF) working with Maries Stopes and the Pimaga District Hospital staff organised a two-day health patrol last month that delivered health services and awareness to the schools and communities.

The eight-person team provided immunisation for children, general outpatient screening, antenatal clinics for pregnant mothers, family planning services, HIV testing and distributed treated Mosquito nets.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill witnessed the official opening of the health centre in the South Wiru Local Level Government (LLG) of Ialibu Pangia District on Saturday, May 6.

Funded by the Department of Health, the Centre was officially opened by the Secretary for Health, Pascoe Kase, in the presence of thousands of people who came from all over Ialibu Pangia.

PM O’Neill said the health policy that the Government has implemented is very important and must reach out to the rural areas.