Kandep lays out red carpet for Polye

By MALUM NALU

 

More than 10,000 people braved pouring rain and chilling weather in Kandep, Enga, to welcome back Treasurer and local MP Don Polye last Friday.

Polye being welcomed be traditionally-clad Engan warriors.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

Polye applauds a group of dancing Engan women at Kandep.

Man-of-the-moment Polye is welcomed to Kandep last Friday.

In a political tour-de-force, Polye, who was recently chosen as chairman of World Bank and International Monetary Fund, was given the red carpet treatment as he brought with him a truckload of six senior government ministers and six MPs, as well as bureaucrats including Works Secretary David Wereh.

They extolled his virtues and even hailed him as a future prime minister, given that his Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party, is the second largest party after the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) and played a major role in formation of government last year.

Ironically, those who flouted him as a prime minister of the future included senior PNC ministers Charles Abel (Planning), Francis Awesa (Works), and James Marape (Finance).

The gathering could also be seen as silencing his critics, given Polye’s ongoing feud with longtime political rival and lawyer Alfred Manase, which has seen the people of Kandep turn on each other and the matter in court several times.

Three major projects were launched including the new Kandep administration building, Kandep Rural Hospital, and the Wasa Bridge project which will see a 320m bridge over the swamps and marshes of Kandep.

Several major road projects were announced, star being the Kandep-Mendi Road, with Kandep sandwiched between Enga, Southern Highlands and Hela provinces.

Despite being the man-of-the-moment, Polye chose to take a backstage role when it came to speaking, letting the ministers and MPs do that for him instead.

“Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is doing a lot to bring services to rural parts of Papua New Guinea,” he said.

‘Because of this focus on rural parts of PNG, Kandep has received many blessings, Kandep has received many services.

“I’m humbled today by the speeches made by my colleague ministers and colleague MPs.

“The honor that the World Bsnk and International Monetary Fund have given is a great honor to Papua New Guinea.

“Because of the financial management under the leadership of the Prime Minister, PNG has achieved something remarkable in the global community.

“It shows that PNG is a country to be reckoned with, and that Kandep is with us all the way.”

Kandep district receives K1 million from Abel

National Planning Minister Charles Abel has given K1 million on behalf of the government to remote Kandep district in Enga province for its high school and primary school.

Abel, when giving the K1 million to Kandep MP and Treasurer Don Polye in front of a massive crowd of more than 10,000 people at Kandep station last Friday, said K700, 000 was for the high school while K300, 000 was for the primary school.

Abel, who earlier opened the district administration building, commended the Kandep people for giving Polye – who was recently appointed as World Bank and International Monetary Fund chairman – to the nation.

Abel opens the new Kandep administration building.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

Abel (centre) being shown the start of works on the Wasa Bridge project.

Also present were senior government ministers James Marape (Finance), Francis Awesa (Works), Mark Maipakai (Industrial Relations), Byron Chan (Mining), Ben Micah (State Enterprises) as well as MPs Nixon Mangape (Lagaip-Porgera), Dei Kewano (Mendi and vice minister for Works), James Gau (Rai Coast) and Wera Mori (Chuave and vice minister for mining).

“Thank you for standing in the rain and cold from morning until afternoon,” Abel told the people.

“We are very happy to be here.

“What else can I say?

“They (earlier speakers) have said everything.

“It’s a great honor and a great privilege for a man like Don Polye to ask me to come and be the keynote speaker.

“There’s a reason why there’s a big crowd here today, as well as very senior ministers.

“It’s because we have a lot of faith and respect for the man sitting here.

“He’s a leader who has won on absolute majorities, even when there are disputed returns.

“I have sat with him in Cabinet, in Parliament, and he has taught me a lot.

“His attitude and humbleness make him a great leader, whom you people should be proud of, given that he was recently appointed as chairman of World Bank and International Monetary Fund.”

Kandep has huge potential

By MALUM NALU

Remote Kandep in Enga has the potential to become one of the leading centres in the Highlands and Papua New Guinea, says Works Minister and Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa.

He, however, told the people that the onus was now on them to change their ways of tribal fighting and work together towards developing their forgotten backwater.

Awesa laid down the message to a massive crowd of more than 10,000 people who congregated in chilling weather and heavy rain at high-altitude Kandep station last Friday to welcome Treasurer and Kandep MP Don Polye, six other senior government ministers and other MPs.

Picturesque Kandep station with the new district administration building in the foreground.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

He had earlier officiated at the launching of the Wasa Bridge project.

Awesa opens the Wasa Bridge project at Kandep.

“Kandep district is a back page in the history of this country,” he said.

“Kandep has been in the dark for 40 years.

Part of the huge crowd of people that gathered at Kandep station to meet Polye, ministers and leaders.

“The transformation you are seeing is because of Don Polye’s bid to lead you to the land of milk and honey.

“The road from Mendi to Kandep is almost complete.

“It has cost us about K450 million.

“It’s ongoing and will be sealed all the way from Mendi.

“It will go up to Laiagam.

“The road will not only start in Mendi and finish here.

“People from Porgera must not only go to Wabag and Mt Hagen, sometimes, they must come to Kandep.

“One of these days, Kandep will become a major town like Hagen, Kundiawa, whatever.

“One day, this road will go all the way to Porgera, Mendi, and finish in Gulf province.”

Awesa said all the government’s good intentions could be derailed if the Kandep people did not change their attitude.

“If the government is spending a lot of money in this area, why are you still fighting and living like your grandfathers?” he said.

“The government wants people to change this attitude, peace must come.

“If you continue fighting, you will put more pressure on our hospitals, schools, and all other services.

“We must stop fighting and must start changing our lifestyle.

“Health services are here, district treasury is here, roads that you have been crying about for the last 40 years are here.

“What more do you want?”

Awesa said the Wasa Bridge projecr would help to link together Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.

“This will be 300m long and will happen over the lake in Kandep,” he said.

“In terms of costs, we have already spent over K35 million.

“The ground was not stable.

“We have budgeted another K35 million for 2014.”