EAST HIGHLANDS GOVERNOR NUMU VISITS WESAN

 

GOVT SERVICES NOT REACHING INTO RURAL AREAS

Captions: pictures of Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu and his provincial administration and Government delegate visiting remote Wesan in 2019.

Pictures By SAPE METTA

 

GOVERNMENT at all levels in the country must reach the people it serves because the Government in a democratic society is for the people by the people.

But this is usually not the case in many remote and rural areas in the country where the elected leaders are hardly seen or only once or twice during the five years.

This reality is faced by many communities that lie between the borders of the provinces.

Many border boundary areas of the provinces in Papua New Guinea were established since colonial times and the boundaries distinctly separate the provinces from each other to conduct its own governing affairs.
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Often times, people living in communities along these provincial border boundaries areas do not see or experience basic government services of the province that they represent.

The population of these communities are often being used for political conveniences. But when the power to govern has been acquired inclusive of their collective mandate, their wish for a productive and prosperous life are continuously neglected.

This cycle seem to be in repetition for the last 43 years of successive terms of governments.

The Wesan area in the Eastern Highlands Province in a classic example of a place where there is lack of government support for basic services and recognition.

Wesan hosts an estimated population of almost 10, 000 people and this people share border with the following districts; Napavo-Bora or Kalekale community in Unggai-Bena, particularly Upper Bena LLG in ward five, Kanofi community in Henganofi particularly Dunatina LLG in ward one and Dumpu Community in Usino-Bundi particularly Usino LLG in ward seven.

The communities in Wesan exist along the Eastern Highlands, Madang and Morobe provincial borders and the people speak a mixture of eight languages, Kafe, Bena, Waga, Dumpu, Raikos and Sainkian local dialects.

The Wesan people’s lifeline depends on a footbridge built by Upper-Bena LLG President John Mipo while he was serving as a PEC cabinet member during Walter Nombe’s term as Premiere of Eastern Highlands province in 1987.

This footbridge at Monoea which connects Ramu in Madang province has served the people of Wesan for the last 31 years.

Two years ago, a local businessman and community leader Samson Kaninku from Usino established the Kaduna Community and Elementary Schools in Wesan, while a group from the Seventh - Day Adventist church started laying frames to build a Health Centre in 2018.

In February 2019, the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government visited Wesan to deliver an impact project for the first time, aimed to transform the lives of the communities and the people.

The visit brought hope to the people of Wesan when Governor Peter Numu announced the following projects which were budgeted for: Kanofi Community School - K200,000; Savire Day High School - K200,000; Dunatina-Dumpu road - K1 million; and Napavo-Dumpu road K1 million.

The Governor also launched the first ever dual Prawns and Fish pond Project to be established in Napavo community.

This project idea is new and first of its kind in the highlands region and a company called Inland Aquaculture Culture Support Services will head the project.

Start up seed capital of K500,000 was presented to Wesan prawn and fish project and for training and to find market for the farmers.

“The government must empower the people and serve the people who are the government,” Numu said.

He said the Government will not be giving them money all the time and wanted them all to sustain themselves through agriculture and farming and be economically independent.

He also encouraged the parents to properly educate their children with education opportunities that were now available. Anything is possible through education.

Numu acknowledged the contributions made by the forefathers in Eastern Highlands politics in constructing the footbridge at Monoea which connects Eastern Highlands to Usino in Madang province.

Numu challenged himself to do better in his time as the leader of the province, while thanking the Member for Henganofi Robert Atiyafa for the current road construction work in Dunatina area.

Numu told the people of Wesan that Eastern Highlands Province has been stabilized and now in order with a permanent Provincial Administrator in place.

He also said the province was the first in the country to have its Five Year Development Plan aligned to MTDP3 of the National Government,  And launched the plan last year to direct the development agendas of the province forward.

 He said the budget this year is being framed in consistent with the launched Eastern Highlands Five year vision.

“This budget which was passed and approved by Treasury will now drive the Eastern Highlands vision 2022 forward,” the Governor said.

“We now have key people in place in permanent positions to perform their work and make things happen for the province.”

Meanwhile Deputy Governor John Mipo call for unity among the locals in Wesan area.

“Put your differences aside and respect each other and be open minded and work together for the change that is coming,” Cr Mipo said.

“This is just a beginning and more will come!”

Wesan community leader and businessman Samson Kaninku who has been helping the people of Wesan for many years with his own resources, positively commended Numu.

Kaninku described the visit as a memorable one that will remain deep in the hearts of the Wesan people for a very long time.

Another local, Stanley Bunesito stated that the event was a milestone for the people of Wesan and thanked Governor Numu for the projects he has allocated for them.