Hela urged to unite

THE Hela Gimbu Association has called on leaders of the new Hela province to work together and prepare it for the general election instead of playing politics with top positions there.
Association chairman Damien Arabagali made the call last Thursday after certain factions criticised the performance of Hela Transitional Authority chief executive officer William Bando.
Arabagali said Bando was involved in the Hela province struggle since his university days and one of the people who provided leadership and resource to realise the Hela people’s dream for a separate province.
He said Bando, with limited time and resources, had performed beyond expectations in:
l    Completion of preparation for the election;
l    Launching of the three-year development plan;
l    Approval of public service positions;
l    Coordination of infrastructure development, office complex, a lodge and Tagali Bridge;
l    Uniting Hela despite political undercurrents; and,
l    Coordination of the Electoral Boundaries Commission’s successful visit to Hela.
“The time is now right for all Hela to unite and move forward to nurture our new province.
“We have waited 36 years and there is no time to waste,” Arabagali said.