ESP leader demands answers after delays

 A COMMUNITY leader at the Gavien Rubber Scheme in Angoram, East Sepik, has expressed disappointment at the long delay by government authorities to address the cocoa pod borer infection in the district.

A frustrated Luke Gawi said Angoram, one of the two top districts in the province to produce cocoa, was hit by the disease mid-last year and to date no action has been taken by the provincial government, the Department of Primary Industries and their agents to stop its spread in the district.

“Because of ineffectiveness by public servants and political heads in the district and province, we have rated the worst in PNG by the Department of Personnel Management in Port Moresby recently.

“When are we going to get our acts right by fulfilling our responsibilities?” Gawi asked.

“Public servants must stop being a politician, rather they are servants of the people.”

“A politician is a legislator, source of funding and most importantly a servant of the people in order to be an effective leader.

“There should be no excuses for funding from the district and provincial administration. It’s a natural disaster that needs urgent attention to save our economy by eradicating CPB as we are a major cocoa producing province in PNG,” Gawi said.

Attempts to get comments from Angoram district administration over the weekend were unsuccessful.