Briefs

Landowners recieve K5 million
THE Warangoi Hydro Landowners Association in Pomio’s Sinivit in East New Britain has received K5 million from the national and provincial governments as payment for the use of the land and water. Provincial administrator Wilson Matava said the first K3 million was presented to the association two weeks ago while the other remaining K2 million was presented to the landowners by the provincial administration late last week. Association Michael Ngaipaka assured that the funds would be used to establish and register SME businesses.

IOM hosts training for partners
THE International Organisation of Migration hosts trainings for stakeholders on how to correctly collect data of internally displaced people and utilise it for their benefit, an official says. The organisation’s Lae-based project assistant Samike Gagee said at a recent workshop in Morobe that the training focused on the displacement tracking matrix, a system to capture and monitor displacement and population movements.

Friendship boulevard
THE European Union (EU) has dedicated one of the road arteries in Port Moresby towards the friendship it has with Papua New Guinea. EU ambassador Jernej Videtic said the PNG-EU Friendship Boulevard Road would seal commitments to PNG in the years to come. He said the the EU would focus on forestry, climate-change and biodiversity in its next phase of friendship initiatives.

Church history and tourism
THE Morobe Government is working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG to restore its historical sites and attract tourists through the church tourism concept programme, Governor Ginson Saonu says. He said the rich history of the church, especially in Finschhafen, had been overlooked over the years. He then presented K500,000 to restore the church’s historical site in Pola’c village (Simbang Parish) where missionary John Freirl first set foot to establish the church more than 100 years ago.

K500,000 for hydro project
THE Morobe government is to contribute K500,000 for a new water supply and hydro project in Finschhafen this year, governor Ginson Saonu says. “The Havi water supply and hydro project in Kote’s Nanduo village in Finschhafen would start soon. Saonu said the provincial government had allocated K500,000 last year for feasibility studies.

ANG resumed Mt Hagen flights
AIR Niugini has resumed flights to Mt Hagen’s Kagamuga Airport on Friday after flights were cancelled due to civil unrest. The airline said in a statement Flight PX 180 departed Port Moresby after 9am, followed by three others flights on Friday.