In 2017 I travelled to the Mekeo region in the Central Province.
We did aerial surveys following a high flood and responsible personnel were able to put reports for quick essential relief assistance.
The videos I share below can be downloaded and used for media reporting.
I hope based on this video, it should give some tips for future officials on the extent of the damage they may face and what they can immediately work towards bringing help to affected people.
It is now time for the people of Central Province to use their democratic right to make a choice on who should be their Governor.
So
many candidates are on the campaign trail.
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| Robert Agarobe meets people at Yule Island, Kairuku District |
As
for me, my campaign has taken place in the last five years and today, my team
and I are having meet and greets with people to explain to them about what we
have done so far.
“They
will not be doing a campaign but awareness,” Hon Robert Agarobe told over one
hundred Central women who gathered to see video news clip reports about few of his achievements in passing
legislations.
“It’s
about making you aware of a lot of things you are not aware off.”
He
told the women if they thought they knew politics they would by lying just like
himself.
He
admitted he picked up after two years in Parliament and made bold decisions to
ensure Central Province benefits.
“Being
an aircraft engineer I am a fast learner,” he said this assisted him to quickly see how politics worked and he became part
of the government that overthrew PNC and for the first time Central Province is
recognized.
“I
fought a battle behind the scenes,” Agarobe said.
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| Robert Agarobe MP |
These
are like the nuts and bolts his team and has put together and soon other parts
will make it complete and Central will prosper.
Agarobe
said he was impressed by the reaction from these women who saw the TV news
clips and cheered and gave an applause.
I
invite my people of Central to see our achievements without a biased view.
An
important legislation that we have amended and passed is the NCDC 2001
Amendment Bill.
We
will now have access to 10 percent of GST generated in Port Moresby paid directly
to us by the Internal Revenue Commission amounting to K3.2 million every month.
What
does that mean, we will have more revenue to increase the size of our budget
and respond to our sector development needs.
Aside
from that and empowered by the Act, I as your Governor will sit on the NCDC
board.
This
was never realized before.
The
women were also made aware that the Lands Department has also given the land title for
the land at Konedobu to the Central Provincial Government.
Important
to note, I have decided that our headquarters will be built on the Konedobu
land with few other important infrastructure like lecture theatres for
teaching, learning and preserving our history and heritage.
You
may wonder why I changed my mind not to build at Bautama.
Basically
this is strategic.
Encroachers
are land grabbing our land and denying us the rights to legitimate benefits on
our Central land that Port Moresby is built on, and if we moved to Bautama, it
means we have been defeated and kicked out of our Central land.
We
must build on our land in Port Moresby and make a statement that Port Moresby
is still ours.
“I
talk a lot about our land and history and I sound like a broken CD,”
Agarobe said.
The
national government has pledged to support infrastructure development at
Konedobu.
The
women were also made aware that another important development progress the
Pangu led government has supported Central is the establishment of the Provincial Health Authority and the subsequent launch of a provincial hospital to
be built at Bautama.
It
will be to the tune of K700 million and expected to be completed in 2025.
The development will be the hospital and a commercial hub.
That
is a huge milestone again supported by Prime Minister James Marape’s government
and I had to be vocal to have the hospital built at Bautama rather than at Gerehu in NCD.
People
with vested interests have wanted it to be constructed at Gerehu.
Once
that 330-beds hospital with specialist health care services are in operation
our people will be so relieved.
They
do not need to queue at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
Agarobe
told the women, being an aircraft engineer he was about sustaining projects and
infrastructure.
“It’s
about building and sustaining it and for us to do that we need money,” he said.
The
latest legislative changes aim to grow the economy so there enough money to
respond to basic needs and build enabling infrastructure.
FEW ACHIEVEMENTS TO NOTE
10 percent GST from NCDC to increase annual budget
Central Province is
owed close to K400 million that is supposed to come from Goods and Services Tax
from the National Capital District Commission
The people of Central Province are entitled to this GST but have
never been receiving it
No other Governor over the years pushed for Central to
rightfully receive its share of the GST until Honourable Chief Robert Agarobe
was elected Governor
The three pillars for development are
Agriculture, Sports, Tourism
Under Hon Chief Robert Agarobe’s leadership, the long
overdue Provincial Lands Board was established to deal with Central Province
land issues
December,
2018
Some component of GST should come through Central Province
so that we can develop infrastructure and services in the province
As a first time parliamentarian, Hon Chief Robert Agarobe
has been very vocal on the floor of Parliament raising critical matters for
Central Province. Most of them are legacy issues.
Honorable Chief Robert Agarobe’s push to get the GST from NCDC has received big endorsement from Prime Minister James Marape
Hospital Launching
As far as health workers is concerned it has only 138 Health
Workers
Three are three doctors, 20 are Health Extension Officers and 115 are general nurses
We have a shortage with health manpower in the province and
our people are forced to seek medical attention at the Port Moresby General
Hospital
History has been made to improve health care. That’s a very
good news.
It’s a milestone ceremony.
Out of the760 hectares of land allocated, 50 hectares will be used to
build the Central Provincial Hospital
The K300 million, 390 beds hospital will be the first ever
for the province and this is something we always wanted as a people and as a
province
Other infrastructure
that will be built include
·
A nursing college
·
A transit drug store
With the new Central Provincial Hospital being launched,
work on its construction will progress and once the hospital is completed, it
will provide much needed health services for Central Province.
Apart from housing 390 beds for clinical treatment,
specialist health care in internal medicine, surgery, pediatric, women’s
obstetrics and gynecology will be provided.
Governor Agarobe says we are now progressing to be on par
with other provinces in delivering quality health services.
Such huge development is a catalysts for more development at
the provincial headquarters.
For over 20 years, NCDC had been giving less than 2 per cent
of its GST to Central Province
This contravenes the NCDC Act which requires NCDC to remit
10 percent to Central Province
This was a long standing issue with both the provincial government
and the municipal authority at loggerheads and the two parties went to court.
However with the new NCDC Amendment Act passed after
Honourable Chief Robert Agarobe brought it to Parliament, the dues for Central
Province are set out clearly
We must be proud and happy. After years if hardship,
disputes and court battles, Central Governor Robert Agarobe successfully moved
and amended the NCDC Act on the floor of Parliament.
Before the private
members bill was passed, there was heated debate amongst Members of Parliament
Despite a few opposition, there was tremendous support from
several Members of Parliament
Governor Agarobe’s bill moved to amend the NCDC Act explicitly states that the Commissioner General of the Internal Revenue Commission shall pay 10 per cent directly to the Central Provincial Government
For the first
time in history and backed by the NCDC Amendment Act, both the Central Province
Governor and the NCDC Governor will sit on the same NCDC board and make
decisions
Ultimately, Governor Agarobe is now a member of the National
Capital District Commission Board
Here is the video that comprehensively spells out Robert Agarobe's development vision and how to approach it for Central Province in 2017.
He has kept the development vision and plans consistent throughout his five year term.
He has set out some foundational elements that should propel the practical execution of the development plans.
One of them is to increase the internal revenue for the province.
