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SANDAUN province will progress under the
Somare Government because three of its five MPs are in cabinet and
holding “key” ministries.
The three members are Patrick Pruaitch (Finance and Treasury), Belden
Namah (Forestry) and Andrew Kumbakor (Housing).
That was the message Sandaun students at the University of PNG got from
Mr Pruaitch, Mr Namah and Governor Simon Solo during a visit to the
campus yesterday.
Mr Pruaitch and Mr Namah are members of the ruling National Alliance
party while Mr Kumbakor is the leader of Pangu Pati.
For a small province, they certainly landed the plum portfolios, much to
the envy of other provinces like Simbu, which had no representation in
cabinet.
Mr Pruaitch said Sandaun province would be the gateway to Papua New
Guinea and the Pacific from Asia and the North.
He said with its rich resources of forest, gold, copper, oil palm
and marine, the province would progress if all its leaders unite and
work together to achieve that objective.
The Treasury Minister said while his two colleagues were in Government
and holding key ministries, they would ensure that the province
progressed with key infrastructure and road projects. A free trade zone
was also being pushed for. Mr Namah told the
gathering that Sandaun would no longer be the neglected province of the
country.
He said with Mr Pruiatch holding Treasury and the nation’s purse,
himself holding the timber forest resources and Mr Kumbakor holding
Housing, they would work on a master plan that will see the construction
of 300,000 homes nationwide including Sandaun.
Mr Namah urged students to have constant dialogue with their MPs on
issues to get direct response instead of express their concerns through
the media.
Mr Solo and Telefomin MP Peter Iwei, who is in the Opposition, pledged
to work with the three ministers to achieve their goals.
 
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