New MP Pato brings Wapenamanda hope at last
20 January 2013
JOE WASIA | Supported by the Bob Cleland Writing Fellowship
THE 40,000 PLUS PEOPLE of the Wapenamanda district in Enga Province now see some light at the end of the tunnel.
New MP for Wapenamanda and Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato, has a great vision for the long-suffering people of the district.
Since 2002, after former parliamentarian Masket Iangalio lost his seat to Miki Kaeyok, who was then succeeded by Pato (pictured left) at the last election, there has been gross neglect of this region.
Every basic infrastructure service in the district has collapsed. The place has been in total darkness for years.
There was no proper district administration; former MP Miki Kaeyok operated from his home at Birip Mission Station.
Law and order issues were on the rise because there being no police on the ground. The district police station was closed down for more than 10 years and the District Court transferred to Wabag for unknown reasons.
The Department of Primary Industry, once an active body supporting rural farmers, was closed due to lack of funding from the district administration. The schools and health facilities established by former MPs Pato Kakaraya and Masket Iangalio deteriorated.
But, above all, road condition in the district is the hot topic that everyone from the Lower Lai basin up to the Tsak Valley talk about constantly. They complain like roads are the food and drink they cannot live without.
But now Mr Pato has brought hope to his people by committing to upgrading the roads and run-down facilities during his five year term in parliament.
Better roads will improve the local economy. The people will sell their produce to nearby markets, raise chickens, start piggeries, open shops and grow cash crops and undertake many other activities that will raise their living standards.
The last ten years have been the darkest in the lives of the Wapenamanda people.
But these positive statements by the new MP are good news to the ears of the people of the district.
Congratulations are due to our new MP for achieving his new political career (he has climbed to ministerial level even though he is a first timer in parliament). We salute you.
The losing candidates and the people of Wapenamanda must put aside their political differences and work side by side to realse the Pato vision and bring much needed services to the people.
Thank God for our MP Honourable Rimbink Pato. People of Wapenamanda have been waiting for such person like him. Thank the Lord once again.
Posted by: Sharon Keke | 02 May 2015 at 09:56 PM
Great piece there. Yes , when looking back, I sometimes cry and my heart breaks.
Despite millions of kina being pumped into the district from the national and provincial government for the last 10 years there is no single effect being felt by people in the district.
The people out there in the far remotest places like Anjins and Taikins, Penals and Walups, Palinaus and Waibaus who do not exposed to any basic services like health and education.
In those places people just like us are dying of communicable diseases every now and then and their children do not access to any basic education.
The roads are in very critical condition as it has never been maintained in the last ten years or so.
As a result, coffee and food resourceful land of Lower Lai, Minamb, Upper Lai and Tsak valley have been stripped off from the rest of the district and the province.
Coffee and the food production have dropped for years. Moreover, the government properties in the district are in traumatic condition.
All the governments run schools and hospitals have all fallen off like a rotten branch.
The district police station, district courts, DPI and the district administration office, as mentioned by Joe, were once the effective government bodies have been crippled and ceased functioning.
Only the district courts has been transferred to Wabag Town while others are in no existence. These serious problems need urgent action from government authorities but yet it has been neglected for years.
If we do not have all these basic elements a district has, why calling it a district? Call it a sub-district of Wabag or Kompiam.
I call on the current MP, Rimbink Pato to make some differences in terms of service delivery and reinstate the ceased district bodies with the help of the national and provincial government.
Cease playing politics and start following the foot steps set by Sir Pato Kakaraya. I think K10m for the district plus other funding can make greater changes in the district.
Posted by: Mono Lewa | 22 January 2013 at 10:59 AM
The long suffering people of Wapenamanda will see light at the end of the tunnel.
Teckla, its really true the electorate has been neglected for the last ten years. All basic infrastructure services established by Sir Pato Kakaraya and Masket Iangalio have been deteriorating.
Thank God for the new MP Rimbink Pato whom we believe will deliver to the long suffering people of Wapenamnda. Our hopes are with this man.
Posted by: Joe Wasia | 22 January 2013 at 08:07 AM
That's really true Joe. Our hopes and aspirations are with this man. And this is the place that he was longing to be for the last 15 years.
I believe he will deliver to the people of Wapenamanda as promised during his visits after the victory.
Posted by: Teckla Jacob | 20 January 2013 at 06:54 AM