SOHE - RECONCILIATION AT MUMUNE VILLAGE

RECONCILIATION AT MUMUNE

Wednesday 09^th March 2016

Higaturu LLG, Ward 15  - Mumune Village

Minister & Member for Sohe being welcome by village elders

Services delivery in rural areas in our country is very daunting task faced by leaders due to rugged terrains, weather and most often the recipient of the services lack the understanding of the purposes of development.

As such, the people of Munune village in Ward 17 of Higaturu LLG in the Sohe District have taken the initiative to welcome their local MP, Hon. Delilah Gore also the Minister for Religion, Youth & Community Development to be part of a reconciliation ceremony to mark a new partnership in which political differences before and after elections have denied the people their rights to basic services which the Member has being tirelessly administering through other wards.

Oro traditional gift (podo) for the guests

“It’s not easy to put roads up in rural areas because locals demand compensation every now and then. Even though it’s the people’s right to claim compensation due to the destruction of natural resources and cash crops. But upgrading an existing road and being mocked at and given compensation claims just does not justify the situation. It only delays progress. So we need to change our attitudes. Blaming the governments all the time is a wrong mindset. The government is trying but it is you, the people who have to embrace development and change” said the Minister.

The O’Neill Dion government is focused on rural development by bestowing the powers to the District Administrations as the development authority to administer to its people and funds can be accessible without further delays. 

Beautiful Oro girls in their traditional attires to welcome Minister Gore 

But the onus is on the people to utilize such policies by working closely with the government to allow roads, bridges, schools and health service to be provided for the people.

“We must forget our difference and work together for the betterment of our future generations. Our children do not deserve be suffer due our indifference and politics” 

Minister Gore was overwhelmed by the reception and commended the ward and village leaders for the efforts in organizing the event. She further reiterated that she won’t be making any commitments as such because politicians have the tendencies to make promises but when the political climate changes, these commitments are forgotten and causes confusions among us.

SOHE - TARA PURI ROAD BREAKING CEREMONY

SOHE - TARA PURI ROAD BREAKING CEREMONY

Tuesday 08^th March 2016

Higaturu LLG, Sohe District, Popondetta Oro Northern Province

Northern Province has been ravaged with natural disasters over the past few years which has affected many roads and bridge infrastructures in the province. And early this year, the province faced another of these disasters which destroyed more than seven bridges.

Girua bridge under construction through PNG Australia TSSP 

The O’Neill Dion government has responded through the Department of Works by sending experts to collect data to remedy the problem and AusAid through their Transport Sector Support Program (TSSP) have invested K139 million as a joint partnership to ensure that the damaged bridges are rehabilitated.

Meanwhile, the Open member for Sohe district and Minister for Religion, Youth & Community Development, Hon. Delilah P Gore went her own way with her DDA team to put up roads to assist her people in her district during their time of distress.

After rehabilitating the Sasembata, Awala and Kendata road the in past two years the Tara-Puri road was recently declared open and ready for rehabilitation after intense negotiations with the land owners.

Tari-Puri road was a daunting task for the member since it took almost one and a half year to get the road rehabilitated due to weather conditions, compensation claims and political enmities.

Felling of rubber trees to cater for the road construction

“It will take almost 2-3 months to have the 10 Km Tara to Puri roads renewed with an estimated costing of K1.1 million. And due to budget constraints, the SDDA has assigned only K500, 000.00 which is from the carried on budget from the previous year that has now been used for clearance and grudging only. The balance will be allocated during the upcoming DDA meetings,” said the Minister during her speech at the opening.

Almost K200, 000.00 was paid as compensation to the land owners due to the loss of cash crop like rubber and betel-nuts and other garden produces. The Department of Primary Industries scoped and valued the cash crops and the Value General certified the payment through SDDA.

Minister Delilah Gore and the DDA executives addressing the media during the opening

Now the people of Tara and Puri will have access to basic services and their cash crops can be sold for what it is worth. Thanks to their mother and mandated leader, Hon. Delilah Gore’s vision and the people of Tara –Puri for their consent in helping them help themselves.