Dismal prospects for people in Kikori area

I believe not many people from Kikori district have raised their concerns over the lack of development.
Our MP Mark Maipakai in a recent statement on commercialising production of sago, a staple diet of the people of Kikori and Baimuru area of Gulf province, said he sent a consulting officer to do research on this prospect early this year.
I wonder whose views have been sought as I see such a venture as socially disadvantageous.
In the long run people will lose their main staple food. What other food security measures are there in place for the Koriki, Iare, Pawaea, Kaimare, Gope, Urama, Goaribari and Kairi people?
Maipakai is from the Gope area and he knows that sago takes a long time to grow and our people do not grow sago for large commercial purposes. To grow one plant takes about a quarter of ones average life span.
I urge the member to stop projects that will scoop up mega bucks for some participants while pushing our people further and further below the poverty line.
I am more interested in finding out how the District Services Improvement Programme (DSIP) funds of K800,000 for 2006 and K800,000 million for last year were used, apart from the District Support Grants (DSG).
Have these funds been acquitted because I am not aware of any projects that have materialised.
Then tell us how you will spend the K10 million from the supplementary budget and the 2008 national budget.
Let’s talk reality. People are dying while traversing the seas between Kerema and Ihu, Baimuru and Kikori. Can you find a solution?
Are remedial measures in place for infringements and breaches of landowner rights for various logging projects in the district?
Kikori and Ihu High Schools are crying for attention. The Kikori Airport Redevelopment Project still has not materialised although a lot of money has been allocated and purportedly spent. What about the Ihu airstrip?
Education and health facilities have not seen a paint brush in many years.
Our magisterial and judicial services are poor.
There are hardly any mechanisms in place to implement, administer and monitor these vital Government activities properly and effectively in the district.
If I go to Cape Gloucestor in West New Britain now, I can still send emails to my family and check on them while I’m on a business trip. But I can’t do that when I go back to retrace my childhood in Karati or Bavi or even Kikori station.
Let us do something positive and practical. Otherwise, it will be another wasted term in Parliament.

Diwai, Taikone, NCD