Wewak opens new market, jetty and police station

by GABRIEL FITO

THE K28 million new Wewak market, police station and jetty were officially opened by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday.

The double-storey police station was funded by the national government under its law and justice sector programme at a cost of K3 million. The Japanese government made available K12.6 million as counterpart funding of the K26 million needed to complete the market and jetty projects.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sir Michael also acknowledged the support of the Japanese government in health, education and infrastructure development.

He said the new market and jetty facilities would service all fishermen and vegetable farmers who did not have a proper market to sell their produce and earn money.

The new market consisted of three buildings, a kiosk and an administration office including a shower rooming and toilet facility and a vendors’ storage room.

The prime minister said while the ice plant would be used to store fresh fish, he would also make available K10 million for a cool room for market vendors to store their vegetables.

Yesterday, Sir Michael also promised to deliver a new Wewak hospital and a museum, construct a sea wall from Moem barracks to Wom village and upgrade the sea and airport facilities to international standards.

The government last week approved the sea wall project to be funded by the European Union.

Deputy Prime Minister and Works Minister Sam Abal told the people of East Sepik yesterday that the new Wewak hospital would receive K10 million, Wewak roads sealing would get K10 million and another K10 million would also be given to Passam National High School to fix its rundown infrastructure and address landowner problems.

The government ministers who accompanied Sir Michael and Abal included Foreign Affairs Minister Don Polye, Forest Minister Timothy Bonga, Labour and Employment Minister Sani Rambi, Lands Minister Lucas Dekene, Housing Minister Andrew Kumbakor and Fisheries Minister Ben Semri. Also with them was government whip Mathew Poia.

Other guests included Japanese ambassador to PNG Hiroharu Hashi Iwasaki, National Fisheries Authority managing director Sylvester Pokajam and acting Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambie.