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By ANDREW ALPHONSE in MENDI
THE isolated Komo government station in the Southern Highlands province
that has been ravaged by tribal warfare and government negligence in the
last 13 years, will be given a major facelift before the end of this
year.
That was the assurance given by the new Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape
yesterday.
Mr Potape told The National that a new district office building for the
station would be the first to be constructed in place of the old one
that was burnt down during a tribal fight some years ago.
Komo has been without a proper district administrative centre and public
servants have been roaming the streets since the station was turned into
a battle field in 1994, as two warring tribes that lived on the fringes
of the station engaged in a fiery warfare.
A number of lives were lost as many state and private properties went up
in flames.
Schools, health centre, airstrip and other vital government services
also closed down.
However within the last 13 years, no efforts were made to rebuild Komo.
After only two weeks in office, Mr Potape has already negotiated for a
Lae-based trucking firm Mapai Transport Limited to deliver two container
loads of building materials.
Those materials are now on their way to Komo station.
Mr Potape said the building would cost about K150,000 with funding
coming from the Petroleum Development License 2 memorandum of
understanding (MoU) funds mainly from the South East Mananda hydrocarbon
projects.
He said the ground breaking ceremony for the building would be held on
Sept 3.
Mananda Umbrella Joint Venture (MUJV) has been contracted to construct
the building.
Mr Potape said MUJV would also erect a V-Sat satellite telephone
communication system worth about K100,000 that would cover a radius of
60km from the office.
He added that he was also in the process of seeking Hides Gas MoU funds
from the government to build a new district administrator’s house.
Mr Potape said all these would eventuate before December this year.
Meanwhile, Mr Potape said his theme for the electorate for the next five
years was “let’s rebuild Komo, Hulia and Margarima”, adding that he was
prepared to work with all the people in the electorate including elites
and fellow unsuccessful candidates to bring changes.
He said his office would be opened for everyone to come, share ideas and
work together to help the people.
Mr Potape said he also had plans to purchase a huge generator to power
up the station as there was no electricity there in the last 20 years.
 
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