Remote villages celebrate first government-funded infrastructure in over 25 years

Two long-neglected inland communities in Ward 4 of the Salamaua Local Level Government [LLG] in Huon Gulf District welcomed vital service with the commissioning of their first-ever government-funded infrastructure projects in over two decades.

The people of Katambing and Yamo Hamlets, located deep within the Selebob, Mare Clan territory, celebrated the official opening of a multipurpose community hall and a head teacher’s house, both constructed through the bottom-up planning concept championed by local MP and Minister for Community Development, Youth, and Religion, Jason Peter.

Despite being only 10 - 15 kilometers inland from Salamaua’s coastline, the terrain is unforgiving. Villagers from these hamlets endure nearly two days of walking through dense jungle, covering roughly 25 kilometers over steep mountain trails to reach services and markets. The region’s isolation has kept them cut off from basic government support until now.

The Katambing Multipurpose Hall, built at a cost of K25,000, was officially opened by Cr. Yalambing, deputy president of Salamaua LLG and Ward 4 Councilor, in a ceremony attended by hundreds of villagers. The hall will serve as a central hub for church services for Lutheran, SDA, Baptist, and CRC denominations, community meetings, training workshops and youth development programs

“This is not just a building. It’s a symbol of connection, identity, and progress for the people,” Cr. Yalambing said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In nearby Yamo Hamlet, the newly completed head teacher’s Hhouse was commissioned beside the Yamap River. The K20,000 facility was funded under the Huon Gulf District’s Teachers Housing Scheme, launched last year to address chronic teacher accommodation challenges in remote areas.

Minister Jason Peter spoke of the importance of investing in rural teacher welfare:

“We want teachers in remote schools to live in dignity,” he said.

“Good housing leads to better performance, increased retention, and improved education outcomes. That’s the foundation of long-term community development.”

The visit also included a key highlight for local agriculture. The Musim Selebob Vanilla Cooperative Society was officially certified following a successful vanilla training program for 40 farmers, conducted by the Huon Gulf District Department of Agriculture and Livestock [DAL] under the leadership of Stanley Sakai.

Through the cooperative, farmers will now have better access to markets, farming inputs, and training, an essential step in transforming subsistence agriculture into a sustainable economic activity.

“This support is part of our commitment to empowering rural communities to be self-reliant through agriculture,” said Minister Peter.

In a separate presentation, five sewing machines were donated to the Giamsau Mama’s Group, a local women’s initiative focused on small-scale enterprise. The machines will help boost income-generating activities such as tailoring and school uniform production.

The Huon Gulf District Development Authority [DDA] has also announced that 10 more teacher houses will be constructed in 2025 across the district’s three LLGs; Salamaua, Morobe, and Wampar, signaling a continued focus on education as a pillar of rural development.

For many residents of Ward 4, the projects mark the first tangible government intervention in living memory. Cliff Wembiong, Salamaua LLG Manager, conveyed the community’s appreciation:

“This is a historic breakthrough. It is the first time these villages have seen any government-funded infrastructure. We are deeply thankful to our MP and the DDA for this kind gesture.”

Minister Jason Peter was joined by local and district officials including: Cliff Wembiong, Salamaua LLG Manager, Pendek Sitong [Huon Gulf District Health Manager], members of the Electoral Office and Team JP Representatives.

Their presence signified a unified commitment to delivering services even in the most remote corners of the district.

As the government pushes forward with its bottom-up planning approach, developments like those in Katambing and Yamo represent more than new buildings, they represent a restored connection between people and their government, and a renewed hope for the future of rural Papua New Guinea.