Be ready for progress: MP
NAMATANAI people have been called on to realise the outcome of the royalty distribution of the recently signed and revised Lihir agreement and to be ready for major development projects. Namatanai MP Byron Chan said the agreement had committed the National Government to the people through the handovers and provincial government priorities. He said with the distribution of royalties for Namatanai, the Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee had resolved that royalties for the district be used in various sectors such as health, education, social services, women, youth and religious infrastructure, law and justice, agriculture and business opportunities.

LBC ahead of schedule
LAE Builders and Contractors Ltd is ahead of schedule in the construction of the K5 million new Foundation House for the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) in Madang. LBC Madang branch manager Shane McCarthy said the project, which began in February, was expected to be completed next month, two months ahead of the scheduled completion date. It is being built by 50 Papua New Guinean staff and an expatriate supervisor. The double storey complex is the residence of the SVD missionaries, a religious order or congregation of the Catholic church and will have 13 residential rooms, 10 visitors’ rooms, an office, kitchen, dining and recreation room and a chapel.

Geno attends regional meet
CHIEF Ombudsman Ila Geno left last week to attend two Ombudsman institution conferences in New Zealand and Australia. The two-day Auckland conference will discuss initiatives for the establishment of a Pacific Island Ombudsman Regional Mechanism Option. Mr Geno will then proceed to Sydney for the International Ombudsman Institute’s directors’ annual conference. He is a director representing the Australasian and Pacific Ombudsman region. These are two important meetings as a number of important and relevant issues regarding the work of the ombudsman throughout the Pacific region and the world would be discussed, he said.

Duo to stand trial
TWO men from Simberi Island in Tabar, New Ireland, have been committed to stand trial in the National Court for allegedly raping two minors. They are Langken Benly, 48, of Karamelabuet village and Kelly Matavuit, 26, of Lava village. According to police reports, Benly threatened a girl in his house and raped her. The incident occurred when her family were away. Matavuit is alleged to have accosted a girl on the road while armed with a knife and raped her. Senior District Court magistrate Thomas Vogusang said sexual offences against minors were on the increase and added that the prevalent use of homebrew and marijuana could be contributing factors.