MP determined to provide electricity in district

 ELECTRICITY will be delivered to remote rural communities where there are road links in the Tari-Pori district of Hela, Finance Minister and Tari-Pori MP James Marape said last week.

Speaking during the launching of the Tari-Pori district strategic development plan at Jote village, Marape presented K450,000 to link Kikita, Hoiebia, Kupari and Piwa for the first phase in the project. 

He said this was a community-based project that would change the lives of the people and it would slowly expand to other areas.

“For those people who will have power poles on their land, they will receive free electricity and roofing iron will be given to them to build their homes,” he said.

He said electricity was an important service that would give new livelihood opportunities and would greatly transform people’s lives.

He said after the completion of the first phase, the rural electrification programme would roll-out to other areas where roads were established.

Contractor Mbale Electrical Services managing director Michael Kewa said equipment was ready and the project would start in August.

Kewa said this was the first phase and four more phases were left and they were looking forward to working with the people, especially those who owned land on which poles would be erected.

Mbale Electrical Services had been engaged at Nipa, Poroma and Plateau, in the Nipa-Kutubu district of Southern Highlands and had successfully completed the projects. 

He said the one at Pai would be looked after by the Catholic Church, the second at Habare will be cared for by the Seventh-day Adventist, the Catholic Church would also act as caretakers of the centre at Jote, Paiya-Pawi would be taken care of by the Evangelical Church of Papua New Guinea and lastly, the United Church would be in charge of Pori.

Marape said he would deliver as promised.