Governor: Ward development system will help

 THE Southern Highlands provincial government believes in participatory development among communities in the province, Governor William Powi says.

He said he believed in people doing things themselves such as developing and implementing their ward development plans.

Powi said the idea of ward development committee system was tried out in the Bogia district, Madang and proved to be successful.

He said although ward development committees were stipulated in the LLG Act, not many provinces had implemented them.

He wanted Southern Highlands to be the first province to implement it.

He will meet councillors in the Nipa-Kutubu district to start the programme before other districts.

He told people at the Nipa station on Saturday and at the Nembi Plateau council chambers that people must be involved in planning and development in their own communities.

Ward councillors who met Powi welcomed the initiative for a participatory approach in development.

Soi ward council Philip Tegi said: “This kind of development is good as we will plan and develop our communities because we know our own needs.

“We will do everything ourselves and we will take ownership and improve our lives.”