Mayor condemns arson

A MAYOR in East New Britain has condemned the burning down of two new buildings at a primary school in Kokopo district.
Kokopo mayor Isidor Bonga said the destruction of the buildings, which housed five classrooms at St Francis Primary School in Takubar, Kokopo, was a serious criminal offence.
Bonga told The National in Kokopo on Friday that the matter had been reported to police and an investigation had been launched into the case, which was being treated as an act of arson.
He said it was disappointing because the school had been established in 2018 with Government funding through the Kokopo development authority, under its district services improvement programme funds.
Bonga said the incident had set back efforts to improve education in the district and would disadvantage students in the area.
He said the school served the villages of Livuan, Ramale, Bitagalip, Palnakaur and Kabaleo as well as Takubar industrial centre as prior to this, children tended to travel longer distances to access educational services at Kabaleo and Kokopo.
Bonga urged police in the province to investigate and prosecute those responsible for burning down the two buildings.
“Students’ learning has been disrupted since Friday when the fire destroyed water tanks, chairs, other furniture in the two temporary buildings,” he said.
“Solar light panels were vandalised as well.
“I want the culprits involved to face the full force of the law because what they have done will have a long-term negative impact on the community, especially the Rabilika land group which provided land for the school to be set up.”
Police confirmed that they were investigating the incident and expected to make arrests soon.
Police alleged that the incident occurred early on Thursday morning.