Governor goes rural,in Madang

By SYLVESTER WEMURU
I CAME the hard way and that is why I am always tough with my decision-making was what Madang Governor Peter Yama told his council presidents and ward councillors in a provincial assembly meeting at Saidor station last month.
Yama, who launched several projects and donated money to several groups for development programmes during his visit at Saidor station in Raicoast district, told the people to work hard to bring changes to their district.
Raicoast being one of the districts that is facing problems with government services such as roads, health and education since independence, needs good leaders to lead them and work closely with the leaders at all levels in the province.
The three-day gathering at Saidor station had people from throughout the district who went there to see and meet with the governor who opened three new buildings at Saidor High school, presented money to the churches, opened the rundown power station, launched the highway from Madang to Saidor station and some other projects that he had initiated when taking up office in 2017.
Yama’s Going Rural policy that he initiated is to see the three arms of government working closely with the people in the village. Addressing LLG presidents and the ward councillors at the Saidor council chambers, the governor said he would work closely with the presidents and councillors because they were the ones with the people and knew what the people were going through in terms of basic needs.
“I have suspended all my open MPs from the provincial executive council because they were absent for three consecutive meetings which is against the law. I, as the chair of the PEC, have to suspended them because of their absence,” Yama said.
“I want to work with you all the presidents and the councillors. We have a lot to do to bring basic services to the people in the province.”
Two councillors from Saidor LLG who were not working together were told to make peace during the PEC meeting in the presence of all the presidents and councillors. Yama said he as the head of the province, did not want people who hated themselves to be in his group, Instead, he said he wanted all to be happy while working under his leadership.
He said he did not hate anyone but those who hated him were making negative comments against him.
The Saidor airstrip that serves people living in the upper region of Raicoast district had been neglected for years and villagers presented their petition to their governor who gave them some money to start clearing up the bushes around the airstrip. He said the airstrip would help the people to transport their crops to the market in Madang and also other parts of the province.
He also made a commitment to support the people and the contractors of the Apilala airstrip.
The visit by Governor Yama was in line with the 11th Raicoast Kangal Festival which was hosted at the Saidor station. Yama also presented K50,0000 to the festival committed and told them that he would continue to support them in the coming years.
The groups of dancers who were at the festival were from the different LLGs of Raicoast District who were selected to participate in the festival. Titus Dilambe, a participant in the festival, said he was pleased with the support from the governor and believes the festival would be bigger next year.
Yama, who was met by the parish priest of Saidor Fr Francis Yas at the station, said he it was sad to see the church building rotting away without any renovation. He presented K100 000 to the church and told Yas to collect anew band set for the church at Brian Bell in Madang.
Yama also presented K25,000 to Fr Yas to do maintenance for the priest’s house. Y
ama also attended the Sunday service at the station and was pleased with what was said in the homily. After the church he went to the Lutheran church and presented K50,000 to the church leaders.
During the presentation he said government and church working together would see great changes in the province and that his Going Rural policy could be achieved that way.

A Kangal Festival performance during the visit of Governor Peter Yama.