Pok asks bank to keep Banz branch open

DEFENCE Minister and North Waghi MP Dr Fabian Pok yesterday condemned the actions of a few selfish individuals who forced the closure of the Bank South Pacific rural branch in Banz, Jiwaka.
Pok said the people of Jiwaka were peace-loving people who should not be denied such basic services or held to ransom by the acts of a small group of people.
He said the new province had the constitutional right to have all services like banking, post office, health, education and other government services.
He appealed to his people of Jiwaka and North Waghi to cooperate and help police to bring those responsible to face the full force of the law.
“I appeal to all my peace-loving people of Jiwaka to assist police to bring in the greedy few to justice. Such actions must not be tolerated and must be condemned,” he said.
Pok appealed to the bank management to give Jiwaka a second chance as banking services in the new province were vital and part of development.
“I appeal to BSP to reconsider their decision to close the rural bank.
“Banking services are vital for my people and for my new province.”
BSP decided to close its Banz branch following a burglary on Nov 5, in which assets and money were stolen.
Pok said the rural banking programme provided basic banking services to people in rural areas to enable them to actively participate in the economic development of their district, province and the country.
He said the future of Jiwaka looked bright with a military engineering base at Kerowil that he initiated during his last term as MP.
“Such burglary of our service providers does not help us leaders of the new province in meeting the needs of our people,” Pok said.
He said the government would be pumping more funding into the districts and provinces in the next budget, and funds earmarked for other vital services could be re-diverted to correcting the wrongs of a few individuals.