Shalom my beloved people of Rai Coast District,
As we step into the New Year, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. Your thoughts, prayers, and unwavering support have been the foundation of our progress, and I am deeply thankful for your positive actions and commitments toward our shared dream of making Rai Coast District a better place for all.
To our public servants and local leaders—councillors, magistrates, peace officers, and community leaders—I commend you for your dedication, leadership, and service throughout the past year. Your tireless efforts in maintaining order, promoting development, implementing our Board decisions, and building harmony in our communities have not gone unnoticed. Together, we have demonstrated that strong partnerships and collective determination can bring about meaningful change.
Our people have shown their desire for change and have gone the extra mile to demonstrate their commitment and do their part. As your elected leader, I assure you that the Rai Coast District Development Authority (DDA) will continue to serve the interests of our people. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and sustainable development. I am pleased to report that in 2024, we held all four board meetings as prescribed by the District Development Authority Act of 2014. These meetings enabled us to strategize, deliberate, and implement key development initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for our district.
Achievements in 2024
Education: Education remains our number one priority. We started building infrastructure for our second secondary school at Bugati to relieve the strain on Rai Coast Secondary. Infrastructure was also funded at Erima Junior High School and Rem Bonga Junior High School. We supported Basamuk TVET School, which we hope will soon be recognized. We also funded many education infrastructure projects in all four (4) LLGs of the District. A major milestone was reopening schools closed for decades—Tauta Primary School after 12 years and Niniko Primary School after 13 years. We also reopened schools in the Nankina area, such as Gwarowan and Bambu, which were closed for 5–6 years. However, Long Island school remains closed. We approved the first-ever Rai Coast District Education Transformation Plan, which will be implemented. RDDA supported education inspections, exam paper uplift, and our secondary school. We paid K500,000 in fees for tertiary institutions and plan to increase this to K1 million in 2025.
Health: Rebuilding closed and rundown healthcare facilities continues. Housing for staff is being constructed, and we secured K2 million from the National Government to start building our District Hospital. Phase 1, building staff houses, will commence in 2025. Unfortunately, our partnership with YWAM did not proceed as expected due to factors beyond our control.
Infrastructure: The Rai Coast Highway is a National Government responsibility under the Connect PNG program. For the first time since independence, Parliament approved funding through a loan in the 2025 National Budget. I sincerely thank our Prime Minister, Works Minister, and the new Acting Secretary for Works for this. RDDA focused on district roads, reaching Tauta Station for the first time in 33 years. We began work on Nahu Road, graded sections of the Rai Coast Highway, from Alemo Junction to Basamuk, and are connecting Basamuk to Saidor in 2025.
District Housing Program: Housing is a key focus under the Connect PNG program. With the launch of the Basamuk kapa factory in May, demand for roofing iron has tripled. Our people are using roofing iron to build homes, churches, schools, and community structures. RDDA will continue to invest in this program.
Off-Grid Rural Electrification: Clean, sustainable energy is a Government priority under Connect PNG. Thanks to the Australian Government, over 12,000 homes, 750 street lights, and schools in 34 Council Wards will receive solar systems. Implementation began in 2024 and will continue until May 2025. Critics questioned the need for energy over roads, but energy is an essential education determinant that improves outcomes.
Rural Airstrips: Air transport remains vital for the 60% of our people living in hard-to-reach Finisterre mountains. Our partnership with Rural Airstrip Agency, MAF, SIL, and NTM has been invaluable. They have supported medical emergencies, exam paper uplift, and transportation of materials and crops. We will continue to rely on their services.
WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene): Water supply projects were completed for Erima and Bugati, and work started at Saidor Station. Officials conducted scoping for future projects.
Law and Order: We supported police operations, including hiring 22 auxiliary officers under RDDA contracts to assist regular police. Investments were made in police infrastructure, and community safety has improved. Making our communities safe is everyone’s responsibility, and our people are stepping up.
Economic Development: Officials provided training in agriculture and financial literacy. A proposed District Credit Scheme will be considered in 2025.
Social Programs: Support continued for various social activities. The sector, however, faces challenges due to limited staff. Establishing district committees for churches, youth, women, and sports remains slow but is underway.
Administration: Construction of the District Community Centre at Saidor and Ileg has commenced with signing of MOU and allocation of funding. The National Lands Department made a K2 million payment for acquiring Lagap land for Saidor Town. Power issues at Saidor Station were resolved, and water supply work is ongoing. Challenges with staff recruitment persist, but our team has performed admirably. Acquittals for 2018–2022 were also completed.
While we acknowledge the challenges we have faced, we also celebrate the progress we have made. With renewed energy and purpose, let us embrace this New Year with faith, unity, and determination. Together, we will continue to build a Rai Coast District that offers hope, opportunity, and prosperity for every family.
May this year bring blessings, peace, and success to you and your loved ones. Thank you for your trust and partnership.
Happy New Year 2025!
