Mendi faces power outage

By JEFFREY ELAPA
ALL businesses and services in Mendi, Southern Highlands, came to a stand-still after PNG Power employees shut off electricity in the province yesterday over continuous assault on employees.
A PNG Power employee, who was driving to work on the PNG Power main standby plant near Magani River after a power blackout, was physically assaulted and sworn at by a drunkard.
This came about just a week after all service providers in the province like the Mendi General Hospital, the Mendi Works Department and PNG Power protested over similar incidences involving assault on staff and destroying and stealing of properties.
The PNG Power office in Mendi, which wanted the surrounding communities to come forward with the culprit so to put a stop to such actions against its employees, shut down power supply to the town.
Business houses including the building that houses the provincial administration offices, communication and banking services were affected except those that had standby generators.
However, after negotiations with the community leaders, police and the general public in front of the Mendi police station, power was restored hours later.
PNG Power management in Mendi is urging the public to respect its employees and allow them to provide the needed services.
It is also appealing to people not to interrupt the progress to the rural electrification project initiated by the Member for Mendi Pr Issac Joseph.