Governor: EHP to host 2018 APEC events

 By JUNIOR UKAHA

EASTERN Highlands Governor Julie Soso is “excited” and “overwhelmed” after the province was selected as a host for the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting.

The APEC 2018 working committee picked Eastern Highlands as one of the provinces to host “high profile APEC meetings”.

In a meeting of heads of institutions in Goroka, Soso said she would allocate funding from the provincial services improvement programme for the meetings.

Attending the meeting were provincial police commander John Kale, University of Goroka Pro-Vice Chancellor Gairo Onagi, deputy provincial administrator Ipa’e Maniha, National Airports Corporation Goroka branch manager Wally Eki and senior public servants.

Notable absentees at the meeting were provincial administrator Solomon Tato, deputy provincial administrator (district and local level government) John Gimiseve and Goroka MP Bire Kimisopa.

“I am proud that Eastern Highlands has been chosen out of the seven highlands provinces,” Soso said.

“The 2017 elections are coming up so whatever leader comes into office will continue the programme.”

Soso appealed to public servants in the province to work together for the betterment of the province.

Soso said Goroka town faced many challenges which should be addressed before 2018, including the upgrading all roads, fixing of sewerage and power supply problems and upgrading the airport.