MP backs drive to restore Arawa town

By KEVIN TEME
ARAWA, in Central Bougainville, is implementing its restoration programme.
The restoration roll-out programme is the brain child of Minister for Information and Communication, Jimmy Miringtoro.
Miringtoro said the programme started in 1998 when the late Bill Skate was the prime minister. He wanted to continue it to re-establish Arawa town to where it was after the Bougainville crisis.
“Most of the kids who have grown up during the crisis period have one way or another gone to school and we have set up a committee to raise funds to re-establish the town to where it once was,” Miringtoro said.
He pledged K5 million towards the fundraising drive but said K15 million would be needed to fully upgrade the township.
Part of that restoration roll-out programme has seen Arawa High School turned into a secondary school this year, with its first Grade 11 intake.
“This will see most children who faced hardship because of the impact of the crisis will benefit and learn to be good citizens.
“I am proud to say that most of the people’s lives will change and I am making sure that we raise enough funds for the roll-out restoration programme,” he said.
Miringtoro, the MP for Central Bougainville, said with the K100 million given to Bougainville by the government, he would make sure K5 million was allocated to this work in his electorate.
He challenged his people to change their attitude to restore the island.
“We can only make things work for ourselves if we have the right attitude and
this is part of the roll-out programme.”

 we will be doing. Making fundraising to help develop our place,” Miringtoro said.
Miringtoro said his hands were open to other electorates but he needed to do best for his Central Bougainville and later he could go into other electorates.