Chief hopes to rebuild province

By JINA AMBA
THE new provincial administrator for Southern Highlands Jerry David hopes to restore and rebuild the province after signing his four-year employment contract.
Five departmental heads signed their contracts at the Government House in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
David said Southern Highlands had had acting provincial administrators since 2011 and for a long time, people had called for a permanent appointment to be made.
“As the provincial administrator, I am now calling on the people from Southern Highlands, church leaders, public servants, civil society organisations, groups, politicians and ordinary people in the province to help the administration, work together with the administration to rebuild and restore the province to implement Government policies to serve the people as required,” he said.
“We have gone through a lot of natural and manmade disasters in the province and we are recovering.
“Everyone should come together and work together, leaving aside our political differences for the betterment of our people.”
David said the administration, with all public servants in the province, would work closely with the PNG Electoral Commission to ensure there was a safe and fair election next year.
He said it was important for the people to vote for the best leaders without fear or favour.
Meanwhile, other departmental heads who signed their contact were: Department of Transport secretary Roy Mumu; Civil Aviation Safety Authority of PNG chief executive officer Benedict Oraka; Papua New Guinea Customs chief commissioner David Towe; and, Assistant Legislative Council Lina Kegana.