Kela-Smith honours bid

FORMER Eastern Highlands governor Malcom Kela-Smith yesterday presented K700,000 to complete the rural electrification project to Unggai mountain top, in Unggai-Bena.
Kela-Smith presented a cheque for the amount to PNG Power Goroka branch manager Leo Savingu at the Pacific Garden Hotel, Goroka, yesterday morning.
That is the final payment of the K1.6 million project and will make sure the project reaches Yabiufa Primary School.
“The money for this project from Kamaliki to Unggai top is from my discretionary component as the governor,” Kela-Smith said.
He thanked PNG Power for completing the first five kilometer of the project.
Savingu thanked Kela-Smith, saying: “PNG Power is committed to bringing electricity to the rural masses. However, it will be the attitude of the people that will determine the success of such projects.
“The penetration rate into rural areas is 20%, with around 80% of the people missing out,” Savingu said.
He said with the final funding, they should be able to reach Yabiufa Primary School.