Milne Bay students begin leaving UOG

The first lot of Milne Bay students at the University of Goroka have flown out Wednesday afternoon.

Milne Bay's members of parliament are said to be liasing with the local Division of Education to effect this for the safety of their children.

Betty Tatauro- Matron of the Milne Bay Student's Association at the University said the first lot were courtesy of the Kiriwina-Goodenough District Development Authority, more than 50 of them had tickets purchased and were making their way home over the next few days.

Same for students by the Esa'ala District Development Authority.

Meantime, President of the association Ferdinand Gedda says basically, these are all first, second, and third-year students, including both in-service and pre-service students.

He says there's a total 112.

Students from Alotau and Samarai-Murua Districts will also follow suit, Governor Gordon Wesley and members Ricky Morris and Isi Henry Leonard also making similar arrangements for repatriation. However, their likely route will be by bus down to Lae, then by flights into Port Moresby, and possibly a highway to Alotau, given that flights are fully booked at this time.

The students join many others from all over PNG being repatriated out of the UOG campus to safety after fighting erupted between locals and students a week ago.

The situation has since been contained but repatriation continues given the versatile situation as it is.

To their parents and loved ones, they assure they are okay and are thankful to the province’s leadership for assisting them get home soon.