InterOil builds complex for Wabo government station

By DAMARIS MINIKULA
VERY soon, there will be government presence and services in remote Wabo government station in Baimuru, Gulf, after many years of neglect.
InterOil has built a modern office and accommodation complex that will house its community affairs section and the core government functions of a district officer and four police officers for Wabo.
These services will add to the local trade store also built by InterOil for the landowners, as an initiative to kick start landowner company entrepreneurship.
InterOil has also assisted telecommunication company Digicel to transport its telecommunication tower to Wabo.
The telecommunication tower is a joint venture between Digicel and Papua New Guinea Energy Development Ltd (EDL), which is doing a feasibility for the Purari hydro project.
Access to telecommunication will enable villagers in these remote areas to communicate with the outside world and will enable local people to shop in the trade store using phone banking.
Wabo is a government station in Baimuru district, formerly a patrol post, near to InterOil’s Elk and Antelope gas fields.
The government station had been neglected for a long time and the local Pawaiian people have continually complained about lack of government services in Wabo.
The aid post and school currently receive very little assistance from the provincial government and there are no regular police to attend to law and order situation in the community.
InterOil started the construction of the office complex after a meeting was held in 2011 between InterOil, clan leaders, Gulf Governor Havila Kavo and Kikori MP Mark Maipakai.