Kaupa promises to help LOs

By YVONNE KAMBIBEL
CUSTOMARY landowners, the Motu Koitabuans, have not been given the respect and benefits they deserve, says Port Moresby North East candidate David Kaupa (Independent).
“They have given their land on which the capital city of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, have been built and to this date, there has not been any improvement in their living standards,” he added.
“They have given their land to the rest of Papua New Guinea which allowed for growth and expansion and businesses to take place which left them with no land to grow their own businesses and no land to grow cash crops to earn an income,” he said.
“Their customs and traditions are dying out quickly compared to the rest of the country and what have we given back to them?” he asked previous leaders who have come and gone during their respective terms in Parliament.
“The natives have been neglected for too long and it is time we make an effort to give something back to them, like paying them their royalties where it is due and help improve their livelihoods,” he added.
Kaupa has years of experience holding management positions in the private and public sectors.
He worked with government departments such as the Lands and Physical Planning and the National Housing Corporation before resigning to contest in General Election 2022.
He said his other two focus would be revisiting the settlement to suburb upgrade programme and redefining the small to medium enterprises incubation programme.

Candidate commits to serve, help the underprivileged

ANGLIMP-SOUTH WAGHI candidate Molka Gibson Kum (People’s National Congress – PNC) wants to take his mission of helping the underprivileged to another level of effectiveness.
“That is why I am contesting for public office in General Election 2022 (GE22),” he added.
Known to locals as champion of the grassroots because of his generous approaches in helping the underprivileged, Kum is considered a dark horse for the seat.
With his wife Juni, they started from scratch, first with a guesthouse in Minj off the Highlands Highway and then they established a charitable organisation known as Molka Lodge Helping Hand.
The organisation had reached out to the needy, such as orphanages, widows, the unemployed youths, the sick, church groups, sports groups, youth groups, market vendors, and the community at large.
Kum, Juni and the Helping Hand team have always been motivated by their principle: “True richness is not measured by how fat the bank account is but by the love that comes from the heart to serve others.”
For more than 10 years, Kum and his team have humbly done things most do not find pleasure in, such as cleaning dirt and removing stench in public places such as markets.
Molka Lodge has grown over the years and has created employment for school dropouts as well as sponsoring them in skilled job training.
The lodge had committed a financial suicide when Kum and Juni made a bold decision to totally ban the sale of liquor in 2015 as they were convinced that alcohol would take souls to hell and spoil the younger generation.
Kum and Juni, a teacher at Nondugl Secondary School, have lived a life dedicated to serving the disadvantaged.
They are devout members of the Evangelical Brotherhood Church (EBC).
The couple own a bakery and a brick laying machine that employs youths.
“I believe in education as the only way to change a person’s life and the country as a whole,” he added.
“I am not pretending to help people. It is the reflection of the love I have in my heart.
“Life is too short. I want to help as many people as I can because one day I will stand before God and give an account of my life.”

LLGs re-unite after 40yrs of isolation: MP

PEOPLE from three local level governments (LLG) of Usino-Bundi, Madang, have united after 40 years of isolation, local MP and Education Minister Jimmy Uguro says.
He said this during his recent visit to re-unite his people and break the barriers created by past governments.
“We have demonstrated unity by naming the Walium Indoor Complex and Sports Stadium after the late former MP Opotio Rimoru,” he said.
“Our team believes in unity and teamwork so that our district and our people can witness leadership and real service delivery.”
Uguro said Rimoru, from Bundi, was a man of peace and the decision to name the complex and sports stadium would enable unity among Usino, Bundi and Gama LLG.
Uguro said that it took leaders to unite people because politicians created divisions between people and communities.
He said this would enable the three LLGs to unite and accept changes of mindsets, services and development.
Uguro added that he also united 70 ward councillors and presidents of the three LLGs and for the first time he supported the ward development authority by subsiding K10,000 to each ward from district development authority for a total of K700,000.

Sia adopted into clan

EASTERN Highlands regional candidate Simon Sia was adopted by the Bayantenu clan in Agarabi area in Kainantu on Friday.
Chief of Bayantenu clan Steaford Amevo and clan elders Pascoe Bau and Robin Tunke facilitated the adoption ceremony in Mapara village outside Kainantu town.
Bau and Tunke welcomed Sia into the clan and told him that since he was now adopted by the clan, he would build his home in Mapara village and will live with them when he retires from active life. The villagers urged Sia to create a sister-town relationship with Bintangor town in Sarawak in Malaysia and Kainantu town.

West Sepik remains undeveloped, candidate says

By HELEN TARAWA
WEST Sepik regional candidate Canisius Ranaipe Numara (Independent) says much resources have been taken out of the province but the province remains undeveloped.
“This cannot continue to be the case. That is why I am contesting for a third time to get elected and initiate changes for development,” he added.
Numara, is up against 52 other candidates, including Sandaun Governor Tony Wouwou, a member of the National Alliance Party. Among the candidates are three women.
Numara, 60, from Warapu village in Aitape is contesting the West Sepik regional seat because he wants to change and develop his province.
After contesting in 2002 and 2012 for the Aitape-Lumi seat, Numara opted for the regional seat.
“I am hoping to win to bring about changes that the people had waited for a long time.
“I am positive because I do have the finance and the support of the people to develop the province. My focuses are on investment, free education, school fee assistance and ward development,” he added.
Numara was a graphic designer and worked with Government Printing Office in Konedobu.