Wabo gets first development grant

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 14th May 2013

 GULF Governor Havila Kavo yesterday presented a cheque for K31,200 to the Elk-Antelope Landowners’ Association to promote business activities and assist with health and education in the province. 

“This is the first ever cheque to the Wabo community,” he said.

The presentation was done following a commitment the governor made to contribute towards a community school, an aid post and the trade store at the Wabo station last month. 

From the money, K15,000 is for the  landowners’ association, K5,000 each for the Wabo Community School, the trade store and Wabo aid post, and an additional K1,200 for a singsing group.

According to InterOil, the aid post and school receive little assistance from the provincial government and there are no regular police to attend to law and order in the community.

Kavo said Gulf was the least developed province in the country but would experience tremendous changes because of its gas fields. 

He said he was negotiating for a joint-venture with the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) to establish a naval base at the Orokolo Bay for security purposes.

“The Gulf provincial government is looking at setting up a coffee processing facility at Hawabago village for inland farmers,” Kavo said.

“From the beginning of next month, we might open an airport in Kaintiba.

“The Kaintiba area is famous for growing organic coffee but is isolated – no access to markets.”

Kavo appealed to the national government to speed up the signing of Gulf LNG project.

Elk-Antelope Gas Co managing director Albert Kerut thanked the governor and encouraged the Gulf people to cooperate and ensure the LNG project went on stream.

“Gulf LNG project needs our cooperation, we have to help ourselves also,” Kerut said.