Kokopo gets praise

EAST New Britain’s Kokopo is a model town of infrastructure development despite its agriculture-based economy, Madang Chamber of Commerce president Stotick Kamya says.
Kamya and 80 members, who attended an indigenous business summit there two weeks ago, said they wanted to know how improvements to the districts and the town could be applied in Madang.
He praised the leaders of all levels of government for their efficiency in service delivery to the province.
Kamya said he was amazed by the cleanliness of the town, with even the rubbish bins being emptied regularly and no sign of betelnut spittle around anywhere.
He said the roads in Kokopo were superbly designed with two to three lanes and street lighting everywhere, rubbish bins provided everywhere, mothers selling their market goods on proper stalls, an efficient database system for all PMV owners and their mobile numbers, properly gravelled roads to villages, power and water provided and a 24-hour service by the two radio stations.
Kamya said even villages in Rabaul did not enjoy such basic services.
He said getting sealed roads and electricity would make it easier for them to concentrate on their cash crops.
“Theirs is where the shift of paradigm begins with their national leaders and filters right down to the ward level, raising their lifestyle to one that is more civilised,” he said.