Settlement gets water after 20 years

Caption:   (left to right) Mr Malabag, Governor Parkop, and Mrs Karo

Caption:   (left to right) Mr Malabag, Governor Parkop, presenting a dummy cheque to Mrs Karo


By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, August 18, 2013 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)



THERE was a lot of jubilation and relief at the Burns Peak settlement in the North West Electorate of Port Moresby last week, when EdaRanu, in partnership with the member for the electorate, MichealMalabag, and Governor for NCD, PowesParkop, officially kicked off work to begin on bringing water into the settlementwithin the next two weeks.

Burns peak settlement, located at Hohola next to the Poreporena Freeway, has seen many water projects done up for other settlements in the city, but never have been recipients of any for more than 20 years.

According to the settlement’s water committee chairman, Ben Babire, they tried for eight months to get a water project; fortunately, they got in touch with EdaRanu’s CEO, Henry Mokono, who initiated the project in consultations with their member.

“We’ve suffered for far too long from a lack of water- other settlements in the city have received help apart from us.”
“We have total population of more 7,500 so the need for this project is very important,” Mr Babire explained.

They hailed Mr Malabag as the first ever MP from their electorate to hear their pleas- sentiments that were shared by the EdaRanu’s Board Chairlady, Mary Karo, who praised the member for Moresby North West, urging all members of parliament to look at the result of the ballot box and give vital services to their people.

She also advised the residents to adhere to the legal ways in obtaining the water that will be brought to them.

“We will bring the water so we need your support; by not having illegal connections, protecting the pipes that bring in this essential resource,” she told the community.

She announced that as the only clean water supplier in the city, they had a responsibility to assist in bringing in the vital resource, and that they were assisting to the cost with a contribution of K100,000.

Mr Malabag was happy to work in partnership with EdaRanu to bring in water, saying it was the first of other vital projects he aimed to bring into the settlement- referringland titles, and road projects.

He urged all MPs to give more than a 100 per cent commitment to their job in representing their people.

“The biggest thing is the love you must have for your people, whether you voted for me or not I will still deliver.”

“The status of settlements is such that they are not included in town planning, thus vital services do not come in- it is something that we have to address,” the MP said.

NCD Governor, PowesParkop apologised for his late attendance, however, expressed his appreciation of the work his three open members where doing- something he said he had been doing alone in his previous term.

Mr Malabag handed over K250,000 to Mrs Karo- with Governor Parkop giving another K250,000 to bring total funding for the project to K600,000 in total.