Good leaders needed,says Teine

SOUND leadership is needed for resource-rich provinces and districts to ensure that development projects transform the peoples’ life for the better.
PNG National Party parliamentary leader Joe Mek Teine said Madang’s Rai Coast district was important because it was host to part of the operation of the Ramu Nickel project.
“We have, therefore, endorsed Myronn Naifan Sareo, a mining engineer by profession to solicit returns from the mining operation to help improve health, education and other services for the people of Rai Coast,” he said.
The PNG National Party endorsed Mr Sareo as its candidate for the Rai Coast by-election.
The seat was left vacant following the death of MP Naiuro Toko Saipa last November.
Mr Mek Teine said many Rai Coast rural people were struggling with deteriorating transport network, poor health indicators with high maternal and infant mortality rates.
“PNG National Party will have candidates to contest seats for rural districts to strive to help improve service deliveries for remote districts, especially facilitating the flow of basic services to the people,” he said.
Mr Mek Teine said they believed in strong leadership which could be provided by calibre of young candidate Mr Sareo, adding he has potential to lift the status of Rai Coast districts.
He said the allocations for Rai Coast had not been fully utilised because of the hospitalisation and death of Mr Saipa.
Executives of the party led by president David Yak accompanied Mr Mek Teine to campaign for Mr Sareo in Ramu and to deliver campaign posters.
Former Kerowagi MP and deputy parliamentary speaker Wagluo Goiye said the party would continue to serve the people as per the party’s motto “We serve, you prosper”.
He said the PNG National Party was instrumental in the development of important infrastructures like the Highlands Highway.
A total of 16 candidates are contesting the by-election.
“Polling started last Saturday,” spokesman Amani Koiya said.
“We have been disadvantaged to have leaders with bad qualities in the past. We are happy to have PNG National Party which is one of the oldest party to recognise us by endorsing a candidate,” he said.