Jiwaka must unite for it to prosper

AS a Jiwakan, I want to commend the National Alliance party for fulfilling our dream of having our own province.
The prime minister has honoured a commitment he made in Minj in 2007 even though we did not vote an NA candidate to our hausman.
I liken that to a famous Waghian adage: “A small lizard moves underneath a big tree trunk causing it to fall”.
I also would like to commend Simon Kaiwi, NA highlands bloc MPs and leaders, Jiwakan heroes, JTA members, our three parliamentarians and others for contributing in one way or another.
However, I have observed some issues that can cause instability in our new government and divide our unity.
I noticed that people of North and South Waghi are arguing for the provincial headquarters to be located at their towns – Banz and Minj – respectively.
This will surely divide our unity.
The JTA members are operating in Banz and I understand they used part of the K2 million allocation from the national government to build an office.
That does not mean that our provincial headquarters will be in Banz.
The NEC will decide where the provincial headquarters will be located.
I have made my research of all possible locations and have come to this conclusion.
Banz may be the preferred choice of many Jiwakans because it is centrally located as an ideal business centre and the surrounding communities are peace-loving people, making it conducive to attract investors.
It is also the closest town for the people from Jimi to travel to and fro.
Incidentally, many members of the JTA come from North Waghi.
Banz has also developed into a haven for settlers and there is hardly any state land left for development.
To remove these unwanted settlements, the government will be forced to pay compensation worth millions.
Unfortunately, Nondugl is not suitable as it is located at the corner of the province.
Kudjip is a central location and it has the potential to grow further.
It has the Jiwaka provincial hospital, highway (4) police traffic station, PNG Power sub-zone station and other private business houses.
It is up to the NEC to decide.
The final town is Minj, which some regard as “ghost town”.
Minj is known as the trouble zone and the people there have attitude problems.
Recently, I went there and saw tremendous changes, making all the comments about it being a dead town nonsense.
The national government, through its town urbanisation projects, recently made a survey on all state lands and conducted a feasibility study of the town’s water system.
The NHC has proposed to build houses for workers and new roads besides upgrading and maintaining existing roads.
The town plan has already been designed and launched.
All empty state land will be utilised.
The urbanisation project groundbreaking ceremony was held on the same day in Minj along with the Jiwaka Day (Aug 11).
Constructions companies have already moved into Minj to develop the town worth millions of kina.
The landowners, said to have an attitude problem, have come together to have their land developed without any form of compensation.
All these have made Minj an ideal place to become the provincial capital.

Tingal Kang
Kudjip-Baning village
Jiwaka