Envoy visits East New Britain

NEW Zealand High Commissioner Philip Taula visited East New Britain last week to inspect NZ-funded projects in the province and identify potential opportunities for partnership.
The visit followed an invitation from Health Minister and Gazelle MP Jelta Wong and was over four days (July 23-26).
State ministers, including Lands Minister John Rosso and Housing Minister Justin Tkatchenko, were part of the delegation.
The delegation travelled to Palmalmal in Pomio on Friday where Wong launched the district’s sea ambulance together with local MP Elias Kapavore.
The 400-horsepower sea ambulance which cost K425,000 will be utilised in referral and emergency cases from Palmalmal health centre to Nonga General Hospital.
The Health Department is expected to reimburse 50 per cent of that cost while the Pomio development authority (DDA) will meet the other half.
The occasion also saw the official launching of the Palmalmal urban town development plan by Rosso.
Kapavore took the delegates to visit Palmalmal Secondary School, Palmalmal health centre and the new site for the Pomio District Hospital.
Wong said the National Government’s focus was on rural areas.