‘Camel’ gets 18 months in prison
THE Woitape man with the nickname “Camel”, who was caught with 21kg of marijuana last Dec 29 at Jackson Airport, has been jailed for 18 months.
Kamo Iki pleaded guilty to being in possession of the dangerous drug.
He flew the drugs, packed in eight rice bags, from Woitape to Port Moresby with the aim of selling it on the streets.
Acting on a tip-off, police nabbed Iki.
Police alleged he was part of a major drug ring, and had been after him for some time.
Meanwhile, drug squad officers are currently tracking down three of Iki’s accomplices, who are part of the NCD drug ring.
A police officer, who did not want to be named, yesterday said the three accomplices were at the scene where Iki was arrested but managed to get away.
Boroko district court magistrate Paul Beu sentenced Iki on Dec 31 in a special court sitting.
Iki is to serve his time in Bomana.

Ramu people assured of by-election this year
By ANTHONY KAYBING
Assurance has been given to the people of Ramu constituency in the South Bougainville area that they will have an elected representative this year.
The people of Ramu have been without a representative since the resignation of their member, Moses Koiri, to contest the national election last year.
At present, Bougainville does not have an electoral commissioner to conduct elections as required by its constitution.
Only the commissioner can order the issue of writs and oversee the conduct of an election in the region.
Until such time an appointment is made, there would be no election.
ABG President Joseph Kabui said the by-election would be held sometime this year, and the budget for this by-election would be unveiled in a supplementary budget expected to be announced by the Somare Government in March.

Thugs escape with K10,000
SEVEN armed men held up the Finschhafen Post Office last Thursday and made off with K10,000 in cash.
All seven are now in Finschhafen police custody awaiting transfer to Lae.
Police recovered less than K1,000.
The robbery has forced the indefinite closer of the post office.
And locals, who use the post office’s Salim Moni Kwik operation in lieu of a bank, are demanding their immediate arraignment.
Police said five of the suspects were locals from the Warea local level government area and two – of Sepik origin, who had travelled there from Lae.

New ambulance for Simbu province
The people of Kilau in the remote Karamui Nomane electorate in Simbu celebrated the news of a new ambulance for their health centre.
Simbu Governor Fr John Garia visited the remote district last week where he told the people that he had purchased a new ambulance for their health centre.
The governor said that the people from that area had not seen an ambulance in their health centre in the last 15 years.
“The Karamui Nomane and Kilau which is in that electorate never had an ambulance for the last 15 years because that area is inaccessible by road.”
He said the people using their own initiatives built a track road which was very rugged and that PMV fares from Kilau to Kundiawa was K100 per person.
Fr Garia said funds had been made available by the National Government through the 2008 Budget which he hoped would address the transport infrastructure in the electorate.
He said the people there were very excited about the good news that they killed 12 pigs to celebrate.
Fr Garia also visited Nomane health centre where he promised the people that used ambulance under-going service maintenance in Kundiawa would be delivered to the health centre.

Free education in NIP
New Ireland province will enjoy free and subsidised education this year.
Plans for new and greater development achievements for the province were the pledges of three local MPs, the provincial administrator, his senior staff and members of the business community .
Member for Kavieng Martin Aini, member for Namatanai Byron Chan and Governor Sir Julius Chan all gathered to make plans for the New Year.
They said it was important for all leaders to work together to bring development into the province and expressed their support for the progress of their province in the New Year.
“I need to move forward and I can’t do it alone, I need you all, the administration and the members of the business sector to do it”, Governor Chan said.

Water supply under compo threat
By ZARA KANU
FRUSTRATED landowners of the Urr Spring that supplies water to Kundiawa in the Simbu province are giving the Government until the end of this week to pay them K5 million or they would shut down the water supply.
Business houses, hospitals and schools would be directly affected if the Simbaiki landowners go ahead with their threat.
Spokesman for the landowners John Kua said the Government must do its part and pay up.
Mr Kua said the notice of shutdown would also be served on the provincial administrator, Kundiawa police commander, provincial lands manager and the PNG Water Board.

Angau welcomes 11 New Year babies
THE Angau Memorial Hospital’s labour ward welcomed 11 New Year babies with the first to arrive at 12:30am.
The heaviest is a baby girl, weighing a healthy 3.8kg.
There were seven girls and four boys born and their proud mothers could not have been happier and delighted with the arrival of their bundles of joy. All the deliveries were normal.
The first three babies born after midnight were given baby products gift packs.
They were baby Lucy Michael (2.8kg) from Goroka, baby Emmanuel Willie (3kg) from Mt Hagen and the third baby – who had already been discharged – a boy weighing 3kg.

Lae police cells repaired thanks to business houses
Metropolitan commander Chief Supt Nema Mondiai has commended the Lae business community for its assistance in renovating the police station cells in the city.
Supt Mondiai yesterday expressed relief and thanked the Guard Dog Security company for initiating the fund-raising efforts after the cells were damaged by escaping detainees two months ago.
He said that the damaged roof and corridor, and wiring including one cell block that had not been fixed for a year, had been repaired.
Supt Mondiai said the roofs had been fitted with strong iron cladding and it would be difficult for detainees to break out again.
He said that the Hornibrook NGI Ltd and many other companies also assisted in repairing the cells.
Supt Mondiai said that more than K40,000 was raised and used to fully renovate the cells with a further K6,000 coming from Lae MP Bart Philemon’s office.

Michaels urged to address woes
By FRANK RAI
A PROMINENT leader from the Siassi Island in the Morobe province has called on the local MP to address some of the priority areas that would help the locals sustain their lives.
These included the ring road on the island and the jetty that was once used for the Gizarum plantation operated by the Lutheran church.
Former provincial government member and community leader Isaac Narol urged Tewea-Siassi MP Vincent Michaels to address these developmental issues that have been affecting the people of Siassi for the last 12 years.
Mr Narol also urged the MP to work closely with other Siassi elites who would help him formulate plans to develop the electorate.

2 escapees nabbed
LAE metropolitan commander Chief Supt Nema Mondiai said police have recaptured two Buimo jail escapees from the Bumbu settlement on New Year’s day.
He did not release their names but said police discovered them while cross-checking their names after arresting them along with other suspects over various offences.