The 7 story Southern Highlands Provincial Building has been closed for some time now as it is currently undergoing major renovation.
The Provincial headquarter at the Aigiru Centre is taking on a major upgrade for its interior as well as exterior, thus all provincial government functions have ceased for operation in the province.
Southern Highlands Provincial Disaster Coordinator Mr Peter Wapenda-Wari has highlighted that since the closure of the Provincial headquarter there was no direction for temporary office from the Administration, thus all offices are not functioning now, however the Human Resource and Treasury Office have been moved to Port Moresby and has been operating there.
“The renovation started around June this year, however there was no memo or circular instruction from the Administrator for the temporary allocation of all office until the end of renovation, so we do not know where to function from.”
“All officers from all sections and divisions are scattered everywhere, plus we also do not know when the reconstruction of the office will end too.”
Mr Wapenda-Wari added that the only two functional offices now are Treasury Office and the Human Resource officer, which is now under the control of the Department of Prime Minister.
“The exterior part of the building is almost complete, and the contractor is working on the interior part of the building.”
Mr Wari extended great sadness and apology to the people pf Southern Highlands Province who have been hit by natural and man-made disasters this year and have been expecting help from the Southern Highlands Provincial Disaster Office but has not received any help.
“We have no office to function from temporarily, plus our request for funding and logistics have fallen on deaf ears, so it saddens me that the Provincial Disaster office has failed to respond to victims and survivors of disaster in the province.”
Hopefully the renovation is done in quick time so that we can do our work, because right now it feels like officers are getting paid for doing nothing and that is not right.