Change taking place in Mendi

By PETER WARI
MENDI Town in Southern Highlands is beginning to see needed developments after it was ravaged by an earthquake and politics-related violence a few years ago.
The 2020 PNG Games to be held in the province has given hope and encouraged the people to get organised and provide hospitality to contingents from the other 21 provinces.
While work is progressing under the leadership of chairman Sape Molumi, some important services are taking shape in the provincial headquarter.
After the chaos brought about by the earthquake and violence in 2018, the Government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched its final phase of the civil aviation development investment programme (Cadip) to upgrade the Mendi Airport at a cost of K27.7 million .
The airport was closed in June 2018 following a civil unrest that saw the burning of a Dash 8 Air Niugini aircraft.
The Cadip programme, funded by ADB, has seen great transformation around the country.
Provincial administrator Joseph Cajetan thanked the Government for the project.
He encouraged the people to support and take ownership of projects that were be delivered in the province.
Cajetan, a God fearing man, has ordered a weekly fellowship for all public servants.
He has organised pastors from different denominations to conduct fellowships every Wednesday at the Agiru Centre.
“What’s done is done and we look forward to building a new Southern Highlands, the problems experienced are our stepping stone to move forward,” Cajetan said.
“Everyone must work together to support our community leaders, councillors, pastors and our local level government presidents to support law and order.
We must not wait for disciplinary forces only.”
Work is currently underway to rebuild the Mendi National Court house that was razed recently during politics-related violence.
The project costs K5 million and is being built by contractor GS5 Ltd. A judge’s residence is being constructed by NBC Ltd.
Project officer Dennis Mongea has confirmed that the Mendi police housing project work was underway – giving priority to the law and justice sector.
“Many public servants in Mendi do not have houses and a K5 million funding was made and work is progressing.
“Public servants from Pimaga in Nipa-Kutubu will also have houses soon in which K5 million has also been funded and contractor Olive Construction Ltd is at work,” Monegea said.
“There are other completed and ongoing projects like Mendi town road sealing, funding for potato seedlings, infrastructure improvement at Tvet (technical and vocational education training) and high schools and upgrading of feeder roads in the five districts.”
Meanwhile, the provincial government has announced a K20.2 million school fee assistance for students attending elementary to secondary schools in the province.
The province has 393 elementary schools, 184 primary schools, 15 high schools, seven secondary schools, Tvet colleges and other schools that have benefited for the funding.
A school fee assistance of K5 million has been paid to schools honouring the commitment to meet the parental component of the Government’s new school fee funding policy.
Governor William Powi made the announcement last week.
He said the parental component for elementary to secondary schools had been paid in full – into the schools’ operating accounts.
Powi said the provincial government’s commitment to provide free education in the province this year was being implemented.
“We recently got our budget approved by the Treasury Department and the first cheque of K5 million is from infrastructure development grant (IDG).
“We have used this funding to pay for schools fees in the province to ease the burden on parents,” Powi said.
“This undertaking is very important for the future of the province and the country,” he said.
Powi said they would not cater for students attending higher learning institution as this had been met by the Government through its Help (higher education loan programme) scheme.