Border people aspire to develop

DEVELOPMENT in the remote area of Wala, located on inland Melkoi local level government on the border of East and West New Britain, has been attributed to the aspirations of the people to be active participants of development rather than waiting on the government.
Evidence of this was witnessed recently by ENB deputy provincial administrator for policy planning and evaluation Bernard Lukara, Governor Leo Dion, and Member for Kandrian-Gloucester Tony Puana during their visit to Wala Primary School.
Lukara told the people there was progressive development over the years, which came about not because of the government, but because the people themselves wanted development and actively participated in development rather than sitting down and crying for government services.
Lukara, who had walked and patrolled the area as a young health worker, was very impressed to see the difference that development had created not only in terms of services, but also in the healthy appearance and general outlook of the people.
He said people were cultivating their land more and getting involved in economic activities especially in cocoa farming.
Despite the remoteness of the community, there was an aid post that provided for basic health care needs and was only a radio call away from Kimbe, Vunapope and Nonga hospitals.
The community had also gone ahead  and  built a school without waiting for the government and that was a good example of people helping themselves because they had a vision.
Lukara said that as far as government services were concerned, provincial boundaries were just imaginary lines and people had the right to receive and have access to these government services regardless of where they were from.
He hoped people continued to be involved and improve economic activities to contribute to the growth of both provinces with improved access to markets.
Dion also made a financial support of K10,000 to the primary school and K5,000 for the aid post.