Briefs

School helped
A group of farmers in Western Highlands has assisted an elementary school with roofing iron for a new classroom. Mt Hagen-based Exile Farmers’ Association gave 40 iron sheets to the Kurunga Elementary School to continue building more classrooms to accommodate the increasing number of students.

New law eyed
Town mayors and council presidents will be voted in by their local ward councillors, says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, pictured. He said the Government would inform all 22 provinces in writing. “Town mayors will also be voted in by the local ward councillors which is the same as Council Ward Presidents.There is a new law, and we will uphold that law as we need to establish only one method for the local-level government elections,” he said. The local-level government elections will be held in April.

Forests protected
The New Ireland government will enact its Forestry Act to protect forests against illegal logging and revive the renewable resource. Speaking at a provincial executive council meeting in Kavieng, Governor Sir Julius Chan, pictured, said: “The provincial forestry law will align with operations of the PNG Forest Authority and National Forest Service and along 2018 service delivery partnership agreement and greater autonomy.”

Body found
POLICE say the body of a man was recently found on a river bank outside Kerema town in Gulf after he had been missing for seven days. Provincial police commander Inspector Silva Sika said the deceased was believed to have gone to do his daily activities and did not return home. “The family started looking for him with the help from the CID unit in the province until Saturday when they located the body along the side of the river,” Sika said. He said most of his details were not confirmed.