Enga's Wapenamanda district has hope at last

By Joe WASIA

The 40, 000 plus people of Wapenamanda District in Enga Province will now see light at the end of the tunnel after years of total darkness. Wapenamanda District, a gateway to the province is the home of the Papua New Guinea's legal head and the foreign affairs minister.

Hon Rimbink Pato, MP

It was very interesting to read and hear from various news media that the new MP for Wapenamanda and Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato has reveal his greater visions for the long suffering people of the district.

Since 2002, after the former parliamentarian Masket Iangalio lost his seat to Miki Kaeyok, who was then succeeded by Pato in 2012 General elections, there were gross negligence in service delivery. All existing basic infrastructure services in the district have been collapsed, to be exact. And the district was in total darkness for years. There were no proper district administration for Wapenamanda for the last 10 to 15 years as the former MPs were operating either from their home or from Waigani. It was utter ridiculous.

Law and order issues were on the rise due to no police personals on the ground. The district police station has been closed down for more than 10 years. District Court was transferred to Wabag town for unknown reasons. The station houses owns by PNG National Housing Commission have been taken over by landowners, Department of Primary Industry (DPI) sub branch which was once an active body supporting rural farmers has been closed down due to lack of funding from the district administration. The schools and health facilities established by former MP Pato Kakaraya in 1980's have also been deteriorating so badly.

The road condition in the district has been an hot topic that everyone from the Lower Lai basin up to the Tsak Valley could not live without in a day. They had to complain everyday like food and drink that they cannot live without. Really sad to see the people from Lower Lai and Tsak loading in their olden toyota stouts and trucks travelling to Wapenamanda just to access basic goods and services. In doing that, many had lost their lives in road accidents relating to bad road conditions.

Mr Pato's win is a hope for the long suffering people of Wapenamanda. We believe Mr. Pato will bring hope to his people by upgrading all the roads and run down facilities in his five year term in parliament so the people can benefit. It was fascinating to hear that honorable member has secured K32M for major road constructions and rehabilitation of Tsak and Lower Lai road and Wapenamanda town sealing. Its was revealed in an even organised to host Honorable Prime Minister Peter O'Neil and his delegates few weeks ago. We appreciate Mr Pato for securing these funds.

It is believed that better roads will directly or indirectly improve the local economy of the district and the province. The local people will sell their produce to nearby markets, raise chicken, do piggery farming, running shops, and grow cash crops and many activities improving their living standards. The last few decades have been the darkest part of the lives of the people of Wapenamanda. But such positive stance is a good news to the ears of the long suffering people of the district. We believe those projects announced recently will get on the ground in the next few months or a year.

Congratulations to our honorable Member for the achievement in his new political career when he climbs up to the ministerial level even though he is a first timer in parliament. We salute you for that! The losing candidates and the people of Wapenamanda must put aside their political differences and work side by side to bring much needed services to the people.