by Delly Waigeno – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The multi-million kina Games Village, which housed over four thousand athletes of the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby was officially handed over to the University of Papua New Guinea today.
Governor for National Capital District, Powes Parkop, said the facility was a justified investment to ensure tertiary students study in the best environment possible.
Minister for Sport and Tourism, Justin Tkatchenko, challenged the University and the students to maintain the facilities for generations of students to come.
It was an important day for the Premier University of the Pacific. There to witness the handover of the Games Village was the Institutions academic and administration staff, students and members of the Sport Foundation. The University of Papua New Guinea recently marked 50 years of tertiary education, and with that achievement, the challenge of aging facilities.
It was therefore timely that the Government handed over the world class games village, the games dining hall and the drill hall facilities to UPNG, as a legacy for the future leaders of PNG.
NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, urged the University to put in place a management system to ensure the facilities are maintained.
Representing the Prime Minister was Higher Education Minister, Malakai Tabar, who pledged that his department would support UPNG, in looking after the facilities.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Albert Melam, said the facilities now add value to delivery of the institutions academic programs by providing a good environment for study.
SRC President, Kenneth Rapa, thanked the government for investing in future of PNG and pledged to look after the facilities.
A plaque was unveiled to mark the handover of the Games Village. The Vice Chancellor also announced that in consultation with the SRC, a protocol will be put in place under the Residential Provisions to safeguard the facilities. One of these is; there will be no provision for appeal if students misbehave.
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