Ilagi dies after a short illness

The Secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs Gei Ilagi has died.
Mr Ilagi, 59, passed away at the Port Moresby General Hospital at about 1.10pm last Friday after a short illness.
In a statement issued from the acting secretary Russel Ikosi, he described Mr Ilagi as one of Papua New Guinea’s most prominent public servant who quietly celebrated his 40 years in PNG’s public service last February.
Out of the 40 years, he spent 27 years serving the country at the senior management level.
He said Mr Ilagi was one of the products who entered the workforce just years after PNG gained independence in 1975.
The late Mr Ilagi began his career as a public servant on Feb 23, 1967, when he went to Goroka Teachers college to be trained as a primary school teacher.
Mr Ilagi was appointed secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local government affairs on Nov 27, 2002.
The late Mr Ilagi is survived by his wife Linda and five children.
His last rites will be held at the funeral home awaiting formal funeral arrangements by the State.
The late Mr Ilagi is survived by his wife Linda and five children.

Address mining issues: Moroi
THE National Government and participants in the mining industry have been called on to seriously address environmental health and socio-economic issues relating to mining activities. Central province Governor Alphonse Moroi made the call after the seminar on mining and petroleum in Port Moresby recently. In view of the mining and petroleum boom in the country due to increase in the world market prices, he challenged the Mineral Resources Authority and respective Government agencies to immediately review relevant laws governing the sector to set legal and administrative framework of ensuring the industry was benefiting the landowners in terms of equity acquisition.

28 learn how to grow rice
TWENTY convicted prisoners and eight Correctional Service officers at the Baisu jail in Western Highlands province learnt basic steps on how to grow quality rice. National Agriculture Research Institute in collaboration with Correctional Service Institute under its Plan-Prison Industries Improvement Programme carried out the training for the prisoners and staff. Facilitator Stanis Malangen from NARI said the training, which was based on wet mainland rice farming, would greatly benefit the officers and prisoners. “It will also allow the participants to have a fair idea on growing quality rice on wet lands.”

Time to empower workers
IT is time Papua New Guinea seriously looks at ways to enhance human resources in Government agencies as well as the private sector. Senior provincial magistrate in Morobe Iova Geita said when he addressed the 8th graduation of students from the International Training Institute in Lae. “The time has come for leaders and those in position of authority to ensure that the workers are skilled in areas of information technology,” he said. Workforce must be trained and skilled enhanced to meet business and Government needs. Human resource is vital in all facets of Government and industry.

Sagem applauds markers
EAST Sepik provincial examinations supervisor Nancy Sagem has commended all markers for the Grade 10 national examination for their high degree of effort, time and commitment put in effectively completing the task. A total of 32 markers from the 13 secondary and high schools in the province attended the marking meeting which took place at Mercy Secondary School assembly hall recently. Mrs Sagem said for many years, students at Grade 10 level in the province had succeeded with very good results and if this trend continued, “we should hope for even better results this year”.

PM pays tribute to Cowdy
PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare recently expressed deep sympathy over the death of his first press secretary, Paul Cowdy, just before independence. Cowdy came to work for the Office of the Chief Minister just before independence and continued to serve Sir Michael in the Office of the Prime Minister with distinction. Sir Michael said his service to the office as press secretary and speechwriter at the time was invaluable. “I convey my deepest sympathies to the Cowdy family, especially his sons, Sam and Liam,” Sir Michael said.

Baisu jail gets PA system
CORRECTIONAL officers’ job in keeping guard on prisoners at the Baisu jail outside Mt Hagen in Western Highlands province will now be made easier following the installation of public address (PA) systems and flood lights. AusAID through its law and justice sector programme provided K400,000 funding for the installation of the PA and alarm systems plus flood lights. Insp Michael Auirap, facility management unit coordinator, said with the new flood lights, it would help CS officers on night-shift duties to keep watch and make their work easier.

PNGDF commended
THE head of Australian Defence Staff Col Luke Foster has highly commended the PNGDF’s participation in the Australian-led Ramsi operations in Solomon Islands. Col Foster said Australia definitely needed the PNGDF in the operations in Solomon Islands because of cultural similarities the Melanesian societies had. PNG’s involvement was a sign of partnership with other nations in the region, he said. “And I must tell you that after the Bougainville crisis, your reputation was not as good as after your involvement with the Ramsi operations.”