By Staycey Yalo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Acting Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator, Thomas Eluh, says there is a tug of war going on in the Southern Highlands Province among people who are competing to get money to satisfy themselves, and not helping the people.
Mr. Eluh revealed that his work in the province is to clean up the mess that seems to be well connected and despite the disaster that hit the province, people continue to suffer at the cost of a few people who are more interested in money.
“The tussle of power in the Southern Highlands Province in relation to the provincial administrator’s position is really about money. My work in cleaning up the province is proving to be a threat to those individuals who want to get their hands on the money,” Eluh said.
Eluh, who was appointed by NEC to be the Acting Administrator last year for three months, is still acting in this position despite his appointment having lapsed in February this year.
According to him, one of the conditions to his appointment is to stay in the province until the government appoints a permanent Administrator. This has not gone down well with many in the province’s capital, Mendi. The province which was hit hard from the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in February this year and is still struggling to rebuild and the struggle for power in Mendi town has not helped the situation.
Mr.Eluh called on the government to appoint an administrator who is neutral and fit to clean up the mess in Southern Highlands. Meanwhile, some Business and community leaders of Southern Highlands want Eluh to remain as the Provincial administrator.
Thomas Kulengi, one of the leaders in Southern Highlands who flew to Port Moresby says “he (Eluh) is doing a tremendous job in grinding the public service mechanism and he must continue his work.”
