A remote community in Ward 19 of Saidor LLG, Rai Coast District, recently had the privilege of hosting the Provincial Member and Governor of Madang, Ramsey Pariwa, for the very first time.
Governor Pariwa visited to deliver K20,000 in financial assistance to St Luke’s Koyako Junior Primary School.
The visit followed a commitment made in 2024 at Gumbi Junior Primary School on the coast at Yaimas Village to support new cluster schools established by the Catholic Education Agency of the Madang Archdiocese, particularly in Saidor LLG.
This was Governor Pariwa’s first visit to Koyako, located in the hinterland of Saidor government station. Residents must walk four to five hours to access government services, conduct business, or catch boats to Madang town.
The reception at Koyako was spectacular. The mountain people decorated themselves with red paint, women wore traditional grass skirts, and men wore feathered head-dresses to perform a traditional dance. Pupils in Early Childhood Development (ECD) classes wore blue uniforms and lined up to greet Governor Pariwa and his entourage.
Accompanying the governor were Rai Coast District Program Manager Education Lamang Bawon, Rural Police Commander Senior Inspector Peter Gorek, and Saidor Parish Priest Fr Francis Yass, who is well-known locally for his pastoral work.
It was striking to note that most classrooms for ECD and junior primary students were constructed from bush materials, including timber, bamboo, and thatch grass roofing. The only modern structure is a small church built in the 1970s from sawn timber processed at Saidor, transported by locals along with roofing iron, cement, and sand, under the supervision of pioneer expatriate Catholic priest Fr Golly during his evangelization in the hinterlands.
The K20,000 presented by Governor Pariwa is a significant step toward improving the learning environment for children in this remote part of Rai Coast District.
Governor Pariwa acknowledged the children of Koyako as the main reason for having a school and for his personal visit.
“We are gathered here today to talk about their future,” Governor Pariwa stated.
He explained that while his role is to make decisions, the actual implementation rests with the Rai Coast Education Program Manager, teaching staff, and Parish Priest Fr Yass. He acknowledged both Mr Bawon and Fr Yass for their collaboration in serving rural schools, which made the ceremony at St Luke’s possible.
Governor Pariwa highlighted that one of his government’s high priorities is education, to prepare the future generation of Madang Province.
“We need schools to produce doctors, accountants, and engineers who will help develop Madang Province,” he said.
“Furthermore, when educated Madang elites work in urban centres, they send money home to support families and create SMEs like trade stores, boosting the local economy,” he added.
The governor noted that 90% of his constituents live in remote areas, and as a responsible leader, he cannot remain in Jomba office pretending everything is fine.
“If you follow me on media, you would know about my visits to remote schools on the borders of Madang, East Sepik, Western Highlands, Jiwaka, and Morobe provinces. I am allocating funds where immediate needs exist and visiting remote places to see how my people are faring,” he said.
Governor Pariwa also explained that while the Provincial Support Improvement Program (PSIP) funds focus on secondary and high schools under the Madang Provincial Integrated Development Plan 2023–2027, he also supports primary schools, ECD, and elementary schools whenever immediate needs arise.
“I have larger impact projects, but when I see urgent needs for classrooms or aid posts, I have the duty and discretion to assist,” he said.
Rai Coast Education Program Manager Lamang Bawon supported the governor’s priorities, emphasizing that education is vital for provincial and national development.
“Through education, we can improve our standard of living,” Bawon said.
He praised Governor Pariwa for being people- and development-oriented.
“Our Honorable Governor visits remote places, lives among the people, and appreciates their challenges. Previous governors did not do this. This Governor is a true son of Madang,” Bawon declared.
