Island villagers to trial solar power system

 By GABRIEL FITO

SUP village on Mushu Island, in East Sepik, has been selected to trial the new solar power system by PNG Power Ltd this year.

Wewak Island local level government president, Pius Bugatar revealed the news to the delight of the villagers who gathered last Thursday afternoon for the presentation of two cheques for health and education from the office for East Sepik Deputy Governor Ian Samuel.

The two cheques of K2,000 each were given to Sup Elementary and aid post by Samuel’s executive officer Ignas Wani, while Sup Primary will pick up its K5,000 at the deputy governor’s office in Wewak this week.

The presentation follows commitments made by Samuel when he officiated at the close of a week-long rice farmers training at the village early this year.

Bugatar told the villagers that the government is giving more concentration now on Sup, especially in service delivery, and they must appreciate and take ownership of these developments.

He said PNG Power workers would visit the island village next month and install the system valued between K200,000 and K300 000 to light up the village.

“This system will give us light, power our televisions and we can run deep freezers. 

“It is good news for us because with power and deep freezers, we can store our catches and sell at good prices at the markets in town,” Bugatar said.

The president had met with National Fisheries Authority officers early this month and urged them to set up fish aggregating devices (FADs) for three different categories in canoe, boat and ship so that the villagers could better their catches and subsequently increase their earnings from fish.

He said the price of fresh fish will be increased to about K10 and K15 per kilogramme.