Western Province

This effort is part of the preparations for the upcoming PNG for Christ program next year.

Youths, missionaries, and church parents gathered in Kiunga town as early as 7 am equipped with spades, rakes, grass knives, and plastic bags to collect rubbish from the ground.

They collected and disposed of items such as empty boxes, tin cans, and betel nut remnants at the rubbish bin. The church members began cleaning the town from Sare Kona junction to the police station.

North Fly MP James Donald, who is also Vice Minister for Mining and Border Development, said Ambassador Supandy’s visit is a result of continued discussions between the province and the Indonesian Embassy on the border developments in Western, including investments and opportunities in commerce and trade.

Donald said the Indonesian Ambassador will first visit the Ok Tedi Mine in Tabubil, and Ambaga Border Post in North Fly, and further down to South Fly District.

Chairman for MRCMCA Holdings Ltd, James Assan, said the vehicle will be used to access communities’ and expand community presence.

MRCMACA Holdings is under the Ok Tedi umbrella and holds 12 percent of the OK Tedi Mine shares for 152 villages from the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) regions in the Western Province.

The CMCA regions are North Fly, Middle Fly, Kiwaba, Highway, North Ok Tedi, Suki Fly Gogo, Manawete and Dudi Region.

The Rumginae Water Supply Project, is the very first Community Infrastructure Trust Fund Project undertaken by Mineral Resources CMCA Holdings Ltd. In partnership with Mineral Resource Development Company.

Chairman for MRCMCA, James Assan, stated that the aim is for impact projects.

“Some people in the community asked for projects like car, motor etc. but I said no it is not a funding under trust were OTDF takes care of. It is slightly different, we are looking for impact projects meaning projects were many people receive the service”, he stated.

The school board and staff including the community had built two semi-permanent classrooms worth over K6, 000 containing desks, blackboards, and office space for teachers.

School chairman, Aron Dupnai urged students and the community to take care of the classrooms.

“We cannot travel far to Kiunga and other villages to look for school. Education is now right in our village so take care of these facilities," he said.

Deputy Divisional Commander for Border Command, Chief Superintendent Sibron Papoto, said there were less or no reports of election-related incidents in the provinces, known as the border commands.
He said all these provinces have completed polling and are now into extraction of ballot boxes and into counting.
 
Wewak, Angoram, Wosera-Gawi and Ambunti-Drekikier are still in counting at their respective districts except for Ambunti-Drekikier, which is being counted in Maprik. Counting for the regional seat is at Moem Barracks, Wewak. 
 

Returning Officer, Dilas Muli said yesterday evening that four teams under Bamu Local Level Government were sent out to their respective polling locations yesterday after they were turned away from bad weather.

He said 56 of the 60 polling teams have completed their polling over the weekend. Mr. Muli said he expects to have the teams return on the weekend and start counting hopefully by next week.

The new electorate has four LLGs:  

1. Aramia Gogodala LLG with 22 teams

2. Balimo Urban LLG 6 teams

3. Bamu LLG 6 teams

4. Fly Gogodala LLG 14 teams

Edward Egobia is hopeful that with the creation of the new Delta Fly electorate and a new Member elected after the election will address these issues.  

He directed his concerns to airline operators, saying simple people cannot meet the costs. Mr Egobia said there is only one airline operating the Port Moresby to Balimo route with return airfares at K4000 excluding the cargo charges.

Frank and Bisai have represented the sport of rugby union at national and international tournaments, at one stage playing for the PNG Pukpuks.

Bisai said having played at the international level, at one time playing in the Wellington 7s was a proud moment for him. He said playing in the Satellite Rugby Union 7s tournament in his home village was nothing more special to have his people witness his final performance on home soil.