Thank you Mr Prime Minister. The news regarding the Petromin Holdings purchase of Tolukuma gold mine and the projects proposed and planned by the Government for Goilala district, has brought me tears of joy and a sense of optimism about the future.
As the PM rightfully stated, since 1975 the Goilala area has been a forgotten rural district situated at the foot of some rugged mountain ranges with rough, unfriendly rivers flowing down towards the Central lowlands and into the Coral Sea.
Goilala is a district so close to Port Moresby, yet so far away in terms of access to the services of PNG’s capital city.
Successive governments have turned a blind eye on the agricultural potential of Goilala as an alternative source for the needs of the city.
Nearly all the fresh nutritious vegetables in most Port Moresby markets come from the Highlands, through an expensive exercise and most of these can be grown in Goilala because the climate is similar.
The question therefore is, why has it taken the Government more than 35 years to realise this?
The Prime Minister’s plan to build a road from Goilala to Port Moresby would effectively enable the people of Goilala to be self-reliant and independent.
 

Allan Fasi
Waigani Heights
Port Moresby.