Haoda lays out plans

By LESLIE OMARO
HUMAN resource and infrastructure development will be the key focus for Central Governor Kila Haoda during his five-year term.       
Haoda, a first-time governor, said the province had lost its identity because past governors had failed in their responsibilities to address the most important issues.
“There is no identity for Central people, there is no city for Central people, no airport, no wharf and I believe with the help of the government led by Peter O’Neill, I can achieve this with my business experience, philosophy and culture,” he said.
“I think I can do it because I have been given the mandate by the people.”
Haoda said he would be working closely with his four open members to develop Central.
 “Collectively we can do this because a governor cannot operate in isolation,” he said.
“My principal priority is to develop human resources, and importantly, I will make quality education compulsory.
“I will change how teachers teach local dialects in classrooms starting from elementary level and make English the language to be taught in all village classrooms.”
Haoda expressed grave concern on teachers’ houses, classrooms as well as aid posts in the districts falling apart from negligence over the years.
Haoda said a good example was the Central headquarters at Bautama, on the Magi Highway, where it has been sitting idle with very little attention from past provincial governments.
“I have spoken to the prime minister to provide funds because Central province people need to have their own headquarters.
“The Port Moresby General Hospital belongs to Papua New Guinea and not Central province only.
“My people go to the hospital and lie on the floor and I want to build a hospital for them.
“The the central province office is in a settlement and I want to build a modern complex office.”
Haoda said another priority was to create small scale business for people at the village level.