21 want Agarobe’s seat

CENTRAL Governor Robert Agarobe is up against 21 candidates including three women in this year’s general election.
He said in a statement yesterday that he aimed to continue his plans to empower the people of Central to participate meaningfully in driving their economy.
“The province desperately needs to make aggressive revolutionary reforms to catch up with time by empowering it to participate and drive its economy,” he said.
Agarobe took office in 2017 after beating former governor and businessman Kila Haoda with more than 40, 000 votes.
Sharing his experience for the last five years as the governor, he said the seat came with a lot of responsibility.
“I have seen very excited young people raising their hands to take on this job and I have given them the opportunity to present themselves,”
Agarobe said he would use his line of experience to rescue what the province needed for its future.
He said in his tenure, he built the identity of Central by taking back what belonged to them which resulted in the passing of the National Capital District Act.
“The Act not only gives the province its share, it also enables the provincial executives to sit as commissioners in discussions on the development of Port Moresby,” he said.
He added in the statement that in the early years of independence and post-independence, Central had the opportunity to run some contracts like the city bus services and others but since the 1990s, none had been engaged with the province.
“I have set the foundation of success through the NCD Act,” he said.

Pomoso to be reinstated after election

CHIEF Inspector Timothy Pomoso will be reinstated as the Hela police commander following the return of writs next month, a senior police officer says.
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for Highlands Western End Command John Kale said for the election period, Senior Inspector Robin Bore would be acting in the position as the commander for Hela.
“Pomoso will be assisting Bore during the election period but he will return to his position as the PPC after the election,” he said.
He said as for the suspension of Chief Inspector Teddy Agwi, his court case was resolved last month with his exit.
On April 1, The National reported that Hela commander Agwi was suspended for 21 days following a gun battle issue in Tari.
Agwi was suspended because there was no proper command and control to local police in Tari which resulted in a gun battle between the warlords and the local police.

Former governor wants to develop Jomard Passage

FORMER Milne Bay Governor (2012-2017) Titus Philemon is keen to develop the much talked about yet forgotten Jomard Passage.
“That will be one of the projects if I am elected to office again,” he added.
He said Jomard Passage would be a major tourism revenue earner when fully developed.
Philemon, who is locked in an 18-corner electoral fight for Milne Bay regional, is on his General Election 2022 campaign trail in the province.
“I also want to complete projects that I started when I was governor. The projects were abandoned by the 2017 elected leaders,” he added.
The projects are:

• AGAUN-MAGARIDA Road;
• MILNE Bay Teachers College;
• A MARITIME Training School;
•  OTHER major road projects – Gogosiba-Niesa Road, Makamaka Road, Rabaraba-Ikara Road, Sirisiri-Aragip Road bridges, Goodenough Island ring-road, Trans Island highway (Esaála), Communication infrastructure;
• RURAL Housing;
• GEHUA satellite town; and
• THE Church-Government partnership programme.

“I also want to empower youths to be useful citizens. Instead of fighting with guns, let us provide them opportunities and activities that will keep them off the streets.
“The Milne Bay people have been short-changed by elected leaders in various services,” he added.
The Jomard Passage is a navigatable straight in Milne Bay province.