Public service improvement program gets underway with the official ground breaking ceremony of a new administration building in Aitape.

Minister for Finance and Treasury and Member for Aitape/Lumi electorate along with other prominent dignitaries were in Aitape on March 24th to officially announce and present multi-million kina worth of development projects.

These included an K8 million funding for a double-storey complex to serve as the District Administration headquarters at Aitape, of which a 20 percent up-front payment of K1.6 million was paid to the contractor, Paul Reptario, Chairman of NBC and manager of Salup Brothers Construction, who won the tender to construct the complex through competitive bidding called for by the Central Supply and Tenders Board.

During this presentation, Finance and Treasury Secretary Gabriel Yer commented that he was proud to have enabled this to happen as he believed the public service was an important tool in the good delivery of vital services to the people.

And according to Mr. Yer, this new office complex is a replica of the model chosen by the Department of Finance for its four regional treasury offices in Madang (Momase), Kundiawa (Highlands), Kokopo (Islands) and Bautama (Southern).

Another funding was a K556, 000 first installment for mobilization work to begin for the construction of a rural electrification service for areas such as Yakoi, Poltulul, St. Martins, and to Tadji.

A further K149, 000 installment payment was made for the construction of a telecommunications tower to receive National Broadcasting Commission's (Kundu) service.

Minister Pruaitch also vowed that with the current problem of accessibility to constant food supply, him and his delegation will be back in Aitape in two weeks time to launch a new barge.

The purchase of this barge is to ferry cargo between Aitape and Lae as an interim arrangement while repairs are being done to the collapsed Aitape wharf.