Dame Carol hails project

DEPUTY Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu launched the Minj pilot urbanisation programme last Saturday in front of a huge crowd in the Western Highlands province.
And Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu said that over the last 32 years, there was no such programme to help develop rural areas.
She said that urbanisation programme was good for the rural people because it would generate much need services in the districts.
She said that the people would not move out to towns or cities looking for better services.
Dame Carol said that the urbanisation program was initiated by the late Sir John Guise in 1973 but was not pushed forward because it was thought that it would not work.
She said that if the idea was implemented, that would have addressed some of the problems in the country like urban drift and improved Government services in rural areas.
She said that this programme would be implemented together with a new program called Integrated Community Development programme.
Dame Carol said that in order for these programmes to be implemented successfully, it needed collective efforts from public servants, councillors, non-government organisations, women’s groups, youths, churches and the public at large.
Meanwhile, Housing and Urban Development Minister Mr Andrew Kumbakor assured the Jiwaka people that they would soon have their own province and urged the people to refrain from criminal activities and tribal fights.