Potential in East Sepik

PRIME Minister James Marape says East Sepik has the potential to become the nation’s “economic powerhouse”.
Marape said in Maprik on Wednesday that because of this potential, and in memory of founding father the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, his next government would be formed in East Sepik.
With him were East Sepik Governor Allan Bird (National Alliance), Angoram MP Salio Waipo (National Alliance), Maprik MP John Simon (Pangu Pati) and Pangu candidate for Wosera-Gawi Ronald Asik.
He said Sir Michael was instrumental in the formation of both Pangu and National Alliance.
“East Sepik has the potential to become the economic powerhouse of our country,” Marape said.
“This is why I will bring the (formation) of government here – in memory of Sir Michael, and secondly, in memory of Sir Pita Lus.
“This will be the first Parliament without Sir Michael and Sir Pita.
“This will be symbolic – that the nation is now being passed on to the next generation.”
Marape said the formation of the new government in East Sepik would inspire the new generation of leaders to hold on to the lofty ideals of Sir Michael and Sir Pita.
He said his Government in the past three years had passed major laws to fight corruption.
They included the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Whistle Blowers Act and Undisclosed Wealth Act.
“What would be the point of Allan Bird and I growing the economy of the country when corruption is still prevalent?” Marape said.
“We have managed to stifle corruption in the big way with the passage of the three bills during the last term of Parliament.”
Marape said East Sepik’s economic potential was in agriculture, through the vast Sepik Plains.
“Over the next few years, we want to grow our own rice for domestic consumption and to export to Philippines, Indonesia and the rest of the region,” he said.

Public servants, private sector workers to be given time to vote: Dept

PUBLIC servants and workers in the private sector should be allowed time off work to cast their votes, according to Personnel Management Department Secretary Taies Sansan.
She said everyone should be given the opportunity to vote in the General Election 2022 (GE22).
“This will require that permission is granted for public servants and employees to leave work early for this purpose to visit their nearest polling booth,” she said.
“The Government anticipates your cooperation in (encouraging) our citizens to participate in this important national event.
“This instruction is particularly important in the Highlands provinces and most urban centres where the Electoral Commission has arranged for two weeks of voting.”
Sansan said individuals should arrange their voting time.
“As far as possible, each person should arrange to vote at their own time, for example, before and after normal public service commencement times,” she said.
Sansan said where it was not possible for workers to cast their vote because of long queues or travel time, agency and department heads should allow a “reasonable period of absence with pay” to allow them to cast their vote.
According to the election schedule, polling begins on July 4 and ends on July 22.

It is time a woman leads Morobe, says candidate

A WOMAN contesting the regional seat in Morobe says it is time a female leads the province.
Sheila Pati Harou, at a public forum for women candidates, said there were two agents to bring development and service delivery.
“The Bible tells of two men, one is without a womb and one with a womb,” she said.
“Morobe has (been giving) leadership to the one without the womb for 40 years. Now we want to give the leadership to the man with the womb – a woman.”
The forum was organised by the University of Technology for women candidates contesting seats in the General Election 2022 (GE22).
It focused on women candidates for the Morobe governor’s seat.
The university invited the four women candidates for the regional seat namely Harou, Finkewe Zurecnouc, Zuabe Tonton Tinning and Jennifer Baing. But three were busy on the campaign trail.
Deputy vice-chancellor Dr Garry Sali said the forum was to create a platform for the women candidates to present their visions and policies to voters who could then make a wise and informed decision when casting their vote.
“It is important because it is where we create a politically neutral platform for candidates to express their views so that voters are informed to make the right choice,” he said.
“They are to give their views on why they want to represent us in Parliament. We need leaders to make right decisions in Parliament.
“It is difficult to run this country, so we need to make proper changes and right decisions.”

Senior govt official in custody after vehicle hits, kills girl

By GYNNIE KERO
A SENIOR government protocol officer is in police custody after his vehicle veered off a road in Wewak, East Sepik, killing a young girl yesterday.
Provincial police commander Supt Albert Beli said the man was driving downhill at Kreer Compound between 7am and 8am yesterday.
He said the girl, attending elementary school, was walking on the road side when she was hit by the vehicle.
Beli said the girl was taken to the hospital at Boram where she died later.
Her family erected a barricade across the road after the accident.
But it was removed later in the afternoon.
Beli said police found alcohol in the vehicle.
He said they would find out where the alcohol was bought from as there was a liquor ban in the province because of the General Election 2022. He said they would look for the alcohol trader to be taken to task too.
There were other passengers travelling in the vehicle with the public servant, he said.