Salt Nomane Karamui (SNK) is the only District in Simbu Province that to this day, has no proper district office of its own.
The old district office was based in Kilau Station in the Salt Local Level Government back in the colonial era, however to this day no district office was built in the old district vicinity.
For the last 25 years, term in term out, all MPs that came through as members for Salt Nomane Karamui has given least priority to building the district office.
Sadly, Salt Nomane Karamui district is the last frontier in civilization and is by far the underdeveloped electorate in Simbu.
With no District Office for decades, there has been no presence of government officials, no government services and nil major infrastructures for decades.
The only government services are Education and basic Primary Healthcare which are operating in old buildings.
For the last 25 years Salt-Nomane Karimui District office has been some random rental space in Kundiawa, thus there are no government official presence felt or seen on the ground back in the district.
Mr. Andrew Ya McCarthy a community Leader and an Advocator in the district, highlighted in an exclusive interview with PNG HAUSBUNG that the people of Salt Nomane Karamui District are yet to see and experience development.
Mr. Ya McCarthy highlighted instances where coffee growers had to carry 40kg bags of coffee beans and other garden produces up and down terrains, cross rivers to go into Gumini District of Sine Sine Yongumulg district to access PMVs to go into Kundiawa town.
“This is sad, we cannot keep on living like this, we need better roads and infrastructures like brides.”
He stated that it has been hand to mouth politics and “wantok system” politics for decades with no concern for the poor people in the district.
“When we don’t have a district office, we do not know what is happening and what will happen, because we are lost.”
“Everyone is anticipating for a change, for infrastructures and visible development and impacts projects to reach them.”
Mr. Ya McCarthy added that early this month Francis Alua, the local MP has come out in one of the daily’s, stating that he will connect a major road link from Wiri to Dulai to Karamui plus other projects, this is welcomed by the people of SNK.
“We look forward to this development because road link is essential for development to reach people.”
“However, we want to see that our good member set a precedence and put his hand up to build our district office.”
All other districts have their district office except for SNK; thus, it is important for government presence to be felt at the district level too.
Ya McCarthy highlighted that a K10million was committed by the Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso to build the SNK district office, and out of the K10million, K1million was given, and contract was awarded, however after two years, not even a groundwork has started.
“Simple appeal to the SNK District Development Authority and our local MP Mr. Alua to look into this matter and get the contractor to start work because K1million is a lot of money.”
“We welcome the proposed road project by our good member, but at the same time, we ask for the construction of our district office to be done simultaneously since funding was allocated already.”