Armed robbery, hold-ups holding Nipa-Kutubu back

Highlands

THE Nipa-Kutubu district development authority presented its 2015-2016 financial reports to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development yesterday.
Authority chairman and MP Jeffery Komal said the district had been one of the least developed in the country and known for a string of armed robbery and hold-ups along the national highway, tribal fighting and other law and order issues.
He said it had been a mammoth task, with the support of his DDA members, to make sure the five strong policies of the government were executed.
However, he said the DDA has given priority to health, making education second and infrastructure third.
He is happy that 80 per cent of the development plans for the education has been achieved.
“The people of Nipa-Kutubu are feeling the presence of the Government as the money given is used to support and strengthen the Government’s policies,” the MP said.
“I commend the Government for the five-strong policies that is seeing working and have given hope to many people living in the rural areas.”
Department of Implementation and Rural Development acting secretary Aihi Vaki said each district is different, with some having already been developed while others remaining underdeveloped but wise use of DSIP and PSIP funds can make a difference.
He said the policy focused on rural development growth was vital as rural areas were where the majority of the people were from and they will contribute to the growth of the economy.
“So it is important that for rural areas to contribute immensely to the economy, by focusing on rural development building better roads and bridges, electricity and supporting SME will give hope to the people to positively partake in nation building,” he said.
Vaki said every MP and his DDA members have the duty to be compliant and furnish their acquittals.
He said it is important that DDA’s are compliant by providing acquittals of funds disbursed to the districts.