LANDOWNERS PROTEST RE-LOCATION OF WABAG GENERAL HOSPITAL
Picture Caprion: ENGA Governor Sir Peter Ipatas and Provincial Administrator Sandis Tsaka addressing the landowners
VETERAN Enga Provincial Member Sir Peter Ipatas was in Wabag earlier this week, to address local landowners who protested over the relocation of the Wabag General Hospital.
The Kayaul, Yakal, Aipyap and Sapip clans of the Awain Tribe marched into the provincial capital making their stand clear that they do not want the hospital to be relocated to make way for the establishment of a commercial center.
Awain Tribal chief and spokesperson Michael Yalo outlined that the
the primary objective of the protest was in regards to the proposed relocation of the Enga Provincial Hospital to Sopas District Hospital of which the landowners demand for anw explanation justifying the relocating of the Wabag General Hospital.
Yalo also questioned whether the proposed establishment of the commercial centre venture will benefit the landowners as the ownership of the land must be make known to the landowners before any developments can take place.
In response to their queries and demands, veteran Enga Provincial Member Sir Peter Ipatas maintained that the transferring of the hospital is not for a personal matter but collectively for an economic interest for the betterment of the province as a whole.
Sir Peter explicitly made it clear to the landowners and the general public that the Enga Provincial Health Authority (EPHA) will only transfer their staff to the state of the art billion kina Enga Referal Hospital at Aipus and not the Sopas District Hospital as claimed by political opponents and opportunists on social media.
“The EPG will relocate the Enga General Hospital staff to work at the New Enga Referral Hospital,” Ipatas said.
He warned political opponents not to spread false and misleading information around to provoke the people to react unnecessarily.
“The innocent public should not be mislead by street leaders and con men. I feel for my people and I love my people,”he said.
“After all staffs vacate the hospital area, a commercial entity will be established after all formalities are done accordingly,” he said.
Sir Peter assured the Awain landowners that the EPG will work closely with them encouraging the landowners to be business partners in the establishment of the commercial centre.
Enga Provincial Administrator Sandis Tsaka also shared similar sentiments emphasizing on honestly and transparency when dealing with people’s land and resources.
He told those who came and protested that the Enga Provincial Government belongs to the people and there is no sinister motives in the relocation but was done as the Prime Minister Hon.James Marape will officially open the billion kina state of the art Enga Referral Hospital on February 31, 2025 which is only couple of weeks away.
He urged the four clans of the Awain Tribe to work and share their grievances with him to amicably solve these outstanding issues accordingly.
