Youths given scholarship to minimise crime rate in Misima

By Angela Paul
Twenty-one youths from Bwagaoia,for Misima island in Milne Bay were flown to Port Moresby on Sunday to study at Mapex Training Institute under a K84, 000 scholarship programme.
Samarai-Murua MP Henry Leonard told a press that the 21 males will take up a two month heavy equipment fitting course.
Leonard said this is the special programme apart from the usual education scholarship scheme offered every year in the electorate.
“I’ve actually chosen these 21 youths from the urban areas of Bwagaoia station because they have some records within the community and the police,” Leonard said.
He said according to the general public, these are the petty crime offenders who were involved in drugs and homebrew.
Leonard said these youths needed a second chance in life and that can be given to them by this skills training programme.
He it was also a to minimize law and order issues on the island.
“In a recent meeting, the Lousiade LLG president said there was a need to bring in police to combat the rising of crime in Bwagaoia,” he said.
Henry dropped the request but agreed to do it a different way.
“I thought education is another path to change the minds of this youths,” he said.
These students will commence their course next week.