Yangoru-Saussia district

Over 40 people from the Yangoru-Saussia District travelled by sea and road from Wewak to Madang to farewell the Late Minister for Education and Member for Usino-Bundi, Jimmy Uguro whose final call of duty was to Yangoru-Saussia District where he visited Wingei High School and Pomalmal High School in the West Yangoru LLG on February 5, 2024.

The classrooms and an office which cost the Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority (DDA) over K400,000 to complete was officially opened by the late Minister for Education, Jimmy Uguro.

Late Minister Uguro committed K1 million to support the school in building a fully kitted science lab at Pomalmal High School as the Government’s contribution to support the efforts of the Yangoru-Saussia DDA.

Minister for International Trade and Investment & Yangoru-Saussia MP, Richard Maru thanked the late Minister Uguro for his commitment to support Pomalmal High School.

The groundbreaking ceremony was officiated by the late Minister for Education, Jimmy Uguro, local MP and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, and the Secretary for Department of Education, Dr. Uke Kombra.

This marked the elevation of the school from a junior high school to a secondary school and also commenced the construction of the secondary school.

Wingei High School is one of the newly established high schools in Yangoru-Saussia District. It was established in 2020 under the leadership of Minister Maru.

This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority (DDA) and the Mama Bank on Thursday last week.

Provided the very easy requirements to open an account, the people lined up in excitement at the new Mama Bank branch in Yangoru Station to open their bank accounts on the bank’s first day of operation.

Mama Bank is the second bank to be hosted by the Yangoru-Saussia District after Bank South Pacific (BSP).

Despite the rainy weather the people of Bararat and the neighboring communities in the Sausso LLG of Yangoru-Saussia District gathered to witness this simple yet historic occasion.

“These people have been crying for a bridge since pre-independence. That is how long it has taken them to get a decent bridge. They have always found it very difficult to cross over to Wewak and back during the rainy season when the river swells from the floods. I experienced their hardship when I first came to Bararat during my 2012 campaign trail,” said Minister Maru.

Local Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru made this announcement at the school’s third Grade 10 graduation yesterday.

Wingei High School is one of the newly established high schools in Yangoru-Saussia District. It was established in 2020.

Of the 24 people, one was an escapee and 23 were suspects who were involved in the clash with police, during June of this year.

The villagers through the ceremony apologise to the police and the district for the law and order issue they have caused leading up to the gun battle between police and the villagers, resulting in the death of a youth and five wounded.  

"We have a police operation that is on because of killings and lawlessness in the district. Mobile Squad 15 (MS15) where brought over from Wau-Bulolo in Morobe and they are now in the district. So far, they are doing a very good job. Crime has gone down because of their presence. I want to thank MS15 and the Police Commissioner for approving their coming. 

Maru says the Yangoru-Saussia DDA will cooperate with them and support them in every way they can to make sure the operation continues. 

The district produced over 9, 000 metric tons of cocoa last year, 2022, which amounts to 20 percent of PNG’s cocoa produced in one district.

Member for Yangoru-Saussia and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru thanked his people for their efforts and hard work in becoming the biggest cocoa producing district in the country. Minister Maru assured his people that Yangoru-Saussia district will invest more in cocoa this year.

Member for Yangoru-Saussia and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru represented the Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority (YSDDA) yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the University of PNG to bring quality education to his people.

The signing paves way for the set-up of Open College campus in the district.