New Wanuma LLG inaugurated

One of three new local level governments in Madang Province was inaugurated last week.

Hundreds of people from the remote Wanuma area congregated at the Wanuma Base Camp last Thursday to witness the occasion; which to them was a major shift in decision- making at the local level. The new LLG consists of seven council ward areas that were previously under Josephstaal LLG.

Wanuma lies on the borders of three districts, including Madang, Middle Ramu, and Sumkar. The voting population there, estimated to be just under seven thousand, based on the last census figures, has been casting votes in all the three electorates.

Over the years since the introduction of the third arm of government, Wanuma was part of Josephstaal Local Level Government, one of four LLGs in the Middle Ramu District.

The creation of Wanuma LLG brings to five the total number of local level governments in Middle Ramu. The other four are Arabaka, Josephstaal, Kovon, and Simbai.

Wanuma lacks essential government services, except for a health facility that continues to operate on an adhoc basis, a primary school that has been closed for five years; and an airstrip that has been neglected by government for many years.

The local people welcome the creation of Wanuma LLG, saying it paves the way for basic services to reach them.

The people are excited about having their own LLG as they believe it paves the way for basic government services to reach them.

One of their immediate concerns now is a road link to the provincial capital.

To get to Madang Town, people living on the Madang border walk for at least three days, whilst those living on the Sumkar border also walk for several hours to get to the nearest road connectivity.

Wanuma flourishes with cocoa, coffee, tobacco, betel nut, and an abundance of food produce which have been left to waste most times due to the lack of road connectivity.

Middle Ramu MP, Kansol Harwai Kamdaru and Madang Provincial Member or Governor, Ramsey Pariwa, were present for the inauguration of the new LLG and both assured the people of improved government services now that they have their own LLG.

Two other new LLGs for Madang Province besides Wanuma are North and South Karkar LLG in the Sumkar District.

These two LLGs were formerly the Karkar Local Level Government, one of two LLGs in the Sumkar District.

The split of Karkar LLG now brings to three the total local level governments in Sumkar District.

Mr Kamdaru said he will be making another submission soon for the creation of a sixth LLG for his district to cater for people along the border of Middle Ramu and Angoram District in the East Sepik Province.