Briefs

Change of venue
EIGHTY candidates were nominated for election of ward councillors in Finschhafen’s Burum Kuat LLG, Morobe. The nominations were held at Huon Gulf district office in Lae. Bad road conditions to Burum Kuat LLG, rough seas and flooding forced a change in venue for the nominations.

Resource allocation issues
THE Education Department’s major challenge is resource allocation, Minister Joseph Yopyyopy said. While presenting the 2018 annual report to Parliament, Yopyyopy said the department had maximised the use of limited resources for maximum benefits. He said there was lack of leadership in the provinces to implement policies and reforms.

Call for accurate reports
THE Government of Peter O’Neill was replaced to make changes, including addressing law and order issues and fighting corruption, Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas said. He said economic reports should be as accurate as possible so that remedial measures could be taken to resolve problems and challenges.

Manam resettlement woes
PRIME Minister James Marape says the people of Manam Island in Madang have been underserved for a very long time. He said serious attention should be given to find a permanent solution to their resettlement woes. Marape was responding to questions from Madang Governor Peter Yama in Parliament concerning the plight of Manam people.

Police need funding
NEW Ireland police need logistics support to carry out operations for the local level government election, provincial police commander Gideon Ikumu says. He said plans were in place but “we need a budget to fund logistics for operations”. He said police in other provinces were also waiting for funding support.

Pay complaint
A SEASONAL worker from Jiwaka who returned from New Zealand with 14 others said they were paid between NZ$50 (K) and NZ$100 (K) fortnightly to work the farms. Wesley Tae, 37, from Kawi, South Waghi, said a couple who arranged their trip on a three- month tourist visa in June, 2016, paid them only a fraction of what they earned.

Bus fare increase
PUBLIC Motor Vehicle owners on route 13E servicing Lae’s Back Road say their move to increase the fare to K2 was to draw attention to their concerns. They said they wanted to draw the attention of all authorities to their plight, including rising fuel prices, the condition of the roads and other operating costs.

Girl accidentally killed
A TWO-YEAR-OLD girl was killed after her brother in-law accidentally hit her with a piece of wood (timber) while arguing with the mother. Morobe police commander Alex N’Drassal confirmed receiving reports of the incident from Bulolo criminal investigation department that the murder occurred on June 7 at Watut LLG in Bulolo, Morobe.

Brothers charged with murder
TWO brothers were charged with wilful murder in the Waigani Committal Court last week. Magistrate Cosmas Bidar said the duo, Nigel and Neville Gula, from Abau’s Wanigela Village, Central, were alleged to have been involved in the killing of Abraham Ku Junior on Oct 13, 2018, at Koki in Port Moresby.
The case was fixed for mention again on Aug 6.