Frequent power blackouts disrupt EHP’s budget session

THE 2019 budget session for Eastern Highlands government was disrupted by frequent power blackouts on Tuesday afternoon.
Governor Peter Numu, who chaired the session to deliver his second reading prior to debates, had to adjourn indefinitely from 2.30pm.
The electricity came on at 4.30pm, the session resumed 15 minutes later.
A disappointed Numu described the situation as unbecoming and promised to deliver a new generator to the provincial assembly.
As Numu continued his second reading, the electricity went off for the second time.
Numu blamed the past provincial government for failing to provide a standby generator but thanked the Goroka Four Square Sunrise Church for providing a temporary generator that allowed the session to finish after 6pm.
Agriculture Minister and Unggai-Bena MP Benny Allen called for more collaboration between the provincial government and districts, especially in framing up of important documents like the budget.
He said his district made some budget submissions for funding of projects but were not reflected in the budget. Allen assured his support to the provincial government to get impact projects like the Korofeigu Agriculture Park off the ground.
“The project is in my district and if I don’t deliver then I fail my people, I am pursuing with the governor to see the project is realised,” he said.
Women’s representative Jenny Gunere was disappointed when no allocations were made to women’s activities.
Numu said they would look into his provincial services improvement fund to support the women and guaranteed his commitment to see the agriculture project got off the ground.
The park is a multi-million kina project initiated by Numu and Allen to industrialise agriculture to grow a robust economy for the province.