Our food, our life

All pictures @MALUM NALU

Last November, we had a big feast at home in Butibam village, Lae, for my two nieces.
We had so much to eat with family members from the Markham Valley, Salamaua and Lae.
That's why I love Lae.

Lae taro, bananas, greens and pork.

Family members from Markham firing up a pig.

Preparing a food basket from coconut leaves.

Preparing the food.

Sister Alison and brother David.

My Butibam village, Lae

All pictures @MALUMNALU

These are pictures of my last visit home to Butibam village, Lae, for the confirmation of my two nieces at St Andrew's Lutheran Church, Ampo, last November.

Younger sister Lepung with nephew Jimmy and nieces Lepung and Juanita.

Our village cemetery.

Mum's grave.

Nephew Jack's grave.

Men talk.

Feast time.

Sister Alison and brother David.

Confirmation day.

Our matmat (cemetery) at Butibam village.

My father's graveyard.

The main road through the village.

Our street.

Our home,

Our haus win (rest house)

Mum may be gone but the beautiful flowers she planted are there to remind us of her.

Family members seeing me off.

My cousin Bimaru.

How green was the valley

All pictures @MALUM NALU

Erap in the great Markham Valley of Morobe as Mangi Blo Ples comes on for landing at Nadzab last November.

Enga contractor says record speaks for itself

By MALUM NALU

The contractor that built the K6 million rural hospital in remote Kandep, Enga, says its track record speaks for itself.

Paul Kurai, managing director of Neno Construction and president of Kandep MP and Treasurer Don Polye’s Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party, told reporters at the recent opening of the hospital that the company had been involved in several major projects throughout Kandep, Enga, the Highlands and the country since 1998.

The new Kandep Rural Hospital built built by Neno Construction.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

Kurai (right) showing visitors around the new Kandep Rural Hospital that his company built.

This has led to accusations from political opponents that Polye is favoring Kurai, an Engan from Wabag, when it comes to awarding of contracts.

Kurai said his other company, Kay Star, had been involved in several major road projects throughout the Highlands since 2006 and was starting on a new contract from 9-Mile outside Port Moresby to Brown River.

“Neno was established in 1998,” he said.

“I’ve done over 1,500 projects around the Highland.

“I’m in charge of building all the Treasury buildings in the Highlands.

“I’ve done a lot of projects in Kandep.

“All the classrooms I’ve built, all the teachers’ houses I’ve built.

“I built the hospital at Sopas (outside Wabag) which was burned down during a tribal fight.”

Kurai said Kay Star was involved in several road projects linking Kandep including the Kandep-Mendi Road.

“Kay Star was established in 2006,” he said.

“I’ve been awarded the contract for 9-Mile to Brown River.

“Moving to Port Moresby is a big thing for Kay Star.

“Currently, I’m building the Wabag to Wapenamenda Highway.

“Sealing and upgrading, everything I’m doing.”

The irony of Mt Hagen

All pictures @MALUM NALU

I was in Mt Hagen, the Western Highlands capital, just before Christmas and there was one thing that struck me.
The place has unarguably the best agricultural land in the country, some of the richest and hardest-working people in the country, but it has one of the worst law and order problems in the country.
Even taking a walk on the streets of Mt Hagen is risky.
This is something that must change in 2014.

In and around the Highlander Hotel.

Mt Hagen City.

Kagamuga Airport.