How is Central’s pilot programme beneficial?

webmaster Letters, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday March 12th, 2014

 I HAVE been following with keen interest the pilot training scheme initiated by the Central provincial government for five Central women to be trained at the Nelson Aviation College in New Zealand. 

I appreciate the fact that Governor Kila Haoda is promoting the importance of gender  equality  and  building human resource capacity for his province, but  I question the benefits of this scheme towards the province in light of the deteriorating state of health, education and other major infrastructures in the four districts. 

Some of the major infrastructures in the province that should be developed are:

  • A  highway  to connect Goilala to  Hiritano Highway  and for  the Magi Highway to be extended to Amazon Bay; 
  • Schools and aid posts in the remotest rural locations of the four districts  that are either closed or struggling to survive; 
  • Rural health centres that are poorly equipped  and staffed as well as  the lack of hospitals in all four districts; and,
  • The performances of the three secondary schools (Kupiano, Kwikila and Mainohano) whose students usually produce poor grades and are unable to enter tertiary institutions.

So, we then ask the following:

  • What  is  the  total  cost  of  the pilot  training  scheme  and what are the real benefits to Central? 
  • Who will employ them as the market  for  pilots in PNG is not that big  and  is there a plan for a new airline company for Central? 
  • Why not ask Central females to apply for  the Air Niugini cadet pilot programme as it will cost nothing to the Central government?
  • While Air Niugini’s application, interview and selection process take about six months, our programme  took  only about two months; so  are  we sure we selected the best? 

Good luck to the selected five.

 

Gena Abori

Port Moresby