Olga gives K25,000 for development projects

By GIBSON TORASO
UPNG journalism student
WESTERN Highlands Governor Tom Olga has given K25,000 to the Western Highlands Development Forum to carry out developments in the province and help keep Mt Hagen clean.
Joe Kelipa, the executive officer from the office of the governor, thanked the forum for taking the initiative to unite educated elites from the province to share ideas and knowledge to bring change.
He said the provincial government recognised the forum as a milestone for development and keeping the city respectable for visitors and residents.
“We need such a forum to work in partnership with people and the government to share ideas and knowledge to develop the province,” he said.
He said the forum’s contribution and working together with the city development forum and the Kona Kai project would have great impact in fighting lawlessness.
“Government and the organisations cannot work in isolation and partnership is the way forward for development,” he said.
Forum interim chairman Samson Komati thanked the provincial government for its help.
He said the forum consisted of educated Western Highlanders and did not have any political motives.
He said the forum was a neutral platform advocating change and development in the province.
“We will partner with government, business houses, donor agencies and NGOs to develop and keep Mt Hagen clean,” he said.
He said the forum would continue to maintain relationships with political leaders to help develop the province.
Komati said apart from the provincial government, they would partner the Western Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Hagen central administration, law enforcing agencies and donor agencies.
“We will not be involved in any political dealings as our motive is to work with them to improve service delivering mechanisms,” he said.
He said the educated Western Highlanders would contribute to providing skills and knowledge in whatever way they could to give back to their people and the pro­vince.