Briefs

Funding appeal
MINISTER for National Planning and Monitoring Sam Basil says he will ask his department to make sure that they allocate some funding in provincial infrastructure programmes (PIP) for governors across the board and the MPs. “We’ve already allocated some funding this year under the services improvement programme (SIP) and under the roads programme that we’ve seen almost K3 million to K5mil for district roads in the country that is managed by the Works Department,” Basil said.

Club distributes seedlings
THE Simbu Botany Club distributed over 20,000 tree seedlings to students of Andy Siure Primary School in Waiye local level government area in Kundiawa-Gembogl, Chimbu, last week. Club director Eric Sinebare said the tree seedling distribution was part of the vision of the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Ministry to plant 10 million trees in Chimbu and Eastern Highlands by the end of 2030.

Warning over advice
COUNCILLORS of Lae Urban local level government should not take advice from people outside about the huge amount of debt incurred by the past administration, says Lae mayor James Khay. He said from an independent audit report compiled lately, over K38 million in debt was incurred by the past management. “The debts were incurred from car rentals, unpaid service providers (contracts), extra employees and other areas,” Khay said.

Mothers given second chance
GRADE 10 and 12 leavers who are mothers and have been given a second chance to attend two weeks early childhood education (ECE) training in East New Britain recently. Eighteen participants attended the training at Napapar two ward facilitated by Shaika ECE master trainer and light Education Ministry phonics specialist Shirley Kamuso and director and trainer Raphael Pilipo.

District most difficult
TEWAI-Siassi, in Morobe, is one of the most difficult districts in the province and communication is a big issue for many years, according to MP Dr Kobby Bamareo. On Friday, Dr Bomareo said the district development authority (DDA), through its district support improvement programme (DSIP), had purchased four communication towers. He said the two towers would be set up in Siassi local level government (LLG) while Wasu and Sialum LLG would have one each.

Party nominates candidate
THE Country Party has endorsed Manu Ijape as its candidate for the coming Goroka open by-election. Party leader Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta announced this at a recent gathering at Lapeigu, Goroka, Eastern Highlands.