Marawaka forgotten no more

By MICHAEL LAI
Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu’s visit earlier this month to Marawaka station and announcement of projects budgeted for this year means this isolated place in the province will not remain neglected and forgotten.
Marawaka, at altitude 1809 metres, is a very remote place with an estimated population of 30,000-plus people. It is located in the Obura-wonenara District.
It shares boarders with Gulf towards the west and Morobe in the east. Marawaka is surrounded with lofty mountains and deep valleys covered under the umbrella of thick clouds. It certainly is one of most difficult places in Eastern Highlands to reach.
All communication here is largely non-existent. The only reliable means to bring basic government service to Marawaka is by air transport- either single engine airplanes or helicopters in fine weather conditions. Flying in bad weather into Marawaka is very risky.
Governor Numu visited Marawaka on Tuesday, Jan 15 to announce projects for the people of Marawaka budgeted for in 2019 and to deliver rewards for completed community projects in the area. He was accompanied by his wife Rosiela Tess Numu, first secretary Solomon Tato, director for planning Peter Gare and chairman the provincial pastors’ fraternal Ps Simon Nime.
Before about 10,000 who had gathered at Marawaka station, the governor announced the following projects to be funded by the provincial government this year:
• Marawaka station hydro project – K500,000,
• Miniyema-Marawaka road- K500,000,
• District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP)- K50,000,
• Tokena-Wanenara road- K1million,
• Rural airstrip maintenance- K500,000,
• Marawaka Day High School- K240,000,
• Teachers deployment to remote schools in Marawaka- K150,000
• School fee subsidy- K3 million for all EHP tertiary students
• Pilot training sponsorship for one student from Marawaka by the EHPG, SME support for registered companies in Marawaka by EHPG, newly established EHPG coffee company to buy coffee directly from locals including Marawaka people at a reasonable price at the LLG level, and outstanding payment of K200,000 for village court magistrates’ allowances.
In addition, first secretary Solomon Tato made cash presentations for work done to Marawaka airstrip maintenance (K10,000), Miniyema-Marawaka road maintenance (K10, 000), and SME support for fish pond projects (K600).
Numu further told the people of Marawaka that the administrative arm of provincial government was being established after eight long years of instability and uncertainty. He stated that for the first time after a long battle for a permanent provincial administrator, John Gimiseve has been appointed to the job.
He further stated that Eastern Highlands was the first province in the country to launch its five-year development plan last year unlike the past when projects were being discharged without proper monitoring and evaluation and most work was left undone and contractors stole millions of kina.
He said under the current government with the five-year development blueprint in place, there would be proper monitoring and evaluation after every three months and project contractors would held accountable if money went missing. He assured the people of Marawaka that the provincial administration was now in order and they should prepare for government service delivery.
Stanley, a community representative, said the visit by the governor and the team was first of its kind since 1975. He said a light of hope has come upon the people of Marawaka after 45 years.